The leading cause of death for children in the U.S. is gun violence. Why is this terrible epidemic only worsening? The 2021–2022 school year had the highest number of incidents in preschools and K–12 schools since 2013.

What can any of us do to stop the violence in and around our schools? The answer must be we need to do everything in our power to stop intentional assaults, but also the increasingly common accidents. We’ve seen that shootings at schools can happen anywhere, nowhere is safe from accidents that arise when guns are allowed on campus, even by the most well-meaning adults.

In 2018, according to the Associated Press, more than 30 mishaps were publicly reported involving firearms brought onto school grounds. Guns in the possession of anyone other than a law enforcement officer have no place in our schools. The commitment should be simple: gun free schools. This policy and this commitment are critical steps in saving our children’s lives.

Redmond school district parents and families need to know that the school board on August 24 specifically voted down the chance to implement a gun safety policy defined by a recently passed law in Oregon and recommended by American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. The policy has been adopted by 29 other school districts in Oregon, including Bend-LaPine, with many others still considering.

The law was carefully crafted to close a loophole that could allow individuals with a concealed weapon permit to be exempt from gun bans on school properties and to enforce secure firearm storage laws. A critical aspect of the policy the board voted down also specifies that signs should be posted on every entrance door to educate the public about the “no guns” commitment and the potential of criminal liability.

The Redmond district does have policies in place intended to prevent guns on campus. I ask, how many of us are aware of these district policies buried among the thousand or so others? It is incredibly ironic that we are willing to post “no tobacco” signs on every entrance but not “no guns”. Do we care enough to look carefully at policies written several years ago and update them to reflect the fact that the incidence of school gun violence is horrific and increasing?

I attended the meeting and heard these reasons for declining to adopt a new policy, among others. A board member cited his concern that he is afraid that since many of the people he knows carry a gun everyday, they would forget and bring it into the school and be prosecuted. It is just this situation that the law is designed to prevent and I would ask if we are committed to protecting our children, or careless adults?

Another board member very inaccurately described the law as allowing guns to be left in view in cars in the parking lot. More than one board member misstated the penalties specified by the law. Another member complained that she doesn’t know why people are “all riled up” about this.

Well, many of us are riled up because children, at increasing rates, are being injured and killed in accidents and intentional attacks. The new law is consistent with researched methods to control violence. It provides an opportunity to take a close look at loopholes, make an effort to address them, and to educate everyone on school property about safely securing our guns. Clearly we all need to be better informed and willing to look at every aspect of making our schools safer.

Parents, please contact the Redmond School Board with your concerns. There are some simple and rational steps to reduce the chances of gun violence in your children’s school, particularly while we wait for upgrades to security systems that we heard at the same board meeting are up to a year out.