Dear friend,
Summer is officially here and we hope you have time on your calendar to rest and relax with your friends and family!
We want to share some updates on school safety legislation, but first, we want to refresh everyone on two important safety topics heading into the summer: safe firearm storage and suicide prevention. Kids will be spending a lot more time at home this season, and we want everyone to have fun while staying safe.
Safe Firearm Storage
Safe storage is about “employing precautions and multiple safeguards that provide an additional barrier against unauthorized use” (Project Child Safe). It is also vital to store firearms where they are not likely to be stolen. These are the minimum requirements for safe storage by responsible firearms owners.
For guidance on how to store your firearm safely and responsibly, click here.
Safe Storage Guidelines →
Suicide Prevention
While on a much needed break from school, many kids can experience loneliness and isolation when separated from their friends during summer break. But for family members or friends, it can be difficult to know the level of intervention someone may need.
The Columbia Protocol is an assessment tool designed to help you determine if someone in your life is at risk of suicide. Click here to access this free tool, or download the Columbia Protocol app here.
If you or a loved one are in immediate need of support, please dial 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Legislation to Watch
Three key pieces of national legislation have been introduced this year with the power to make a positive impact on school safety across the country:
- The EAGLES Act would secure a critical expansion of The National Threat Assessment Center’s research into the origins of targeted violence and direction of funds towards preventing the next mass school shooting.
- The Mental Health in Schools Excellence Program Act of 2023 would incentivize graduate school candidates to work in K-12 schools upon graduation, helping get more mental health professionals into America’s schools and increasing students’ access to comprehensive mental health resources.
- The School Guardian Act of 2023 would create block grants for communities that choose to hire specially selected and trained law enforcement officers to protect students and teachers in their schools, improving response times during emergencies and deterring violence before it begins.
We need you to let your representatives in Congress know you want to see real action on school safety. Click here to urge them to support the passage of these three key bills, or make your voice heard by supporting our work with a donation.
Contact your representatives →
Support our work →
Last month marked a year since the tragedy at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, the worst incident of mass violence at a school since the Parkland tragedy in 2018. The Uvalde tragedy shook our nation to its core, but out of tragedy came unity and action: just 31 days later, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden.
Change is possible, friend, but we can’t keep waiting for the next tragedy to take action. The best way to honor the lives of those taken in Parkland, in Uvalde, and across our country is to support the movement for safer schools today.
As the most effective advocacy group to arise out of the Parkland tragedy, Stand with Parkland’s supporters have a lot to be proud of. Help spread awareness of our mission while supporting our work by purchasing a Stand with Parkland shirt or sweatshirt — all proceeds go directly to supporting our school safety mission.
We’re seeing progress, friend — but there is still so much work to be done. Please consider a donation to help make your voice heard and support our work — every dollar has a real impact on the safety of students and teachers in our country.
Make an impact →
Thank you,
– Stand with Parkland
