NEA and Texas State Teachers Association issue joint statement in response to Uvalde, Texas school shooting

WASHINGTON — At least 14 students and one teacher were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The suspected shooter, an 18-year-old high school student, is also dead. On the heels of the mass shooting at a Buffalo grocery store, the school shooting shattered the physical and emotional safety of the community. The tragic loss of life, especially so many innocent children, is being felt around the country.

Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina and National Education Association President Becky Pringle released the following statement:

“Our public schools should be one of the safest places for students and educators — but gunshots shattered the physical safety of the school community in Uvalde — and as it stands, we lost 15 lives, including 14 children and a teacher.

“The National Education Association and the Texas State Teachers Association are devastated by the loss of lives, and we stand together during this difficult moment, sending love and healing thoughts to the victims, their families and the entire Uvalde community. We are ready to work together to ensure students and educators get the emotional and physical support they need to begin the healing process.

“This tragedy once again underscores the very real dangers of a culture in which gun violence has become too much the norm and is too often the first way to resolve an argument or a grievance.

“We pray for the victims and their families, and we once again demand that state and federal policymakers take action to keep firearms out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them, whether that requires enacting new laws or better enforcing our existing laws.

“Tragedies like this one keep happening while elected officials do nothing; except, in Texas’ case, make firearms more available. How many more mass shootings need to happen before these lawmakers finally take responsibility and address the gun safety issue?

“We remain steadfastly committed to ending gun violence in our nation’s public schools and communities. We owe it to our students and educators to make our schools safe and welcoming places where every student can thrive.”

NEA provided resources to help parents, students, and educators talk about the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Follow us on Twitter at @NEAMedia

# # #

About the National Education Association: The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.