According to Project Unloaded research, the teens most interested in arming themselves are teens who feel unsafe at school; Half of young people worry about school shootings at least weekly
CHICAGO – This afternoon, President Trump reportedly will sign an order to dismantle the Department of Education, which plays a vital role in keeping schools safe. The Department of Education funds important mental health programs and violence intervention work.
Project Unloaded research found that the teens most likely to want to carry a gun were also most likely to feel unsafe at school. 2022 research found that about half of young people worried about school shootings every week. Programs and investments that help students feel safe at school are a critical part of youth violence prevention.
In response to the Department of Education news, the Gen Z-focused gun violence prevention organization Project Unloaded released the following statements:
“As the federal government abdicates responsibility to keep students safe from gun violence, it’s more important than ever to address the problem with solutions that don’t rely on federal leaders,” said Nina Vinik, founder and president of Project Unloaded. “Young people deserve better. It’s up to us to do everything we can to help keep them safe, and that includes empowering them with the facts on why they’re safer unarmed.”
“At this point, my generation is used to adults failing us,” said Clara Biggs, a high school junior and member of Project Unloaded’s Youth Council. “That’s why it’s so important that we look out for each other and make sure our peers know the facts on why guns make us less safe. Gun violence is the number one killer of children and teens in the U.S. and our federal elected leaders clearly aren’t protecting us. But we can protect each other by rewriting gun culture so that it’s based on the facts: we’re safer without guns around.”
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