Urge lawmakers to continue working toward comprehensive solutions to shield students from further devastation

SACRAMENTO – Today, the U.S. Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant new federal gun safety legislation in decades. CTA President E. Toby Boyd, a kindergarten educator, issued the following statement in response to legislation which will expand background checks for buyers under 21, provide funds to states to implement extreme risk protection measures, and increase funding for mental health services:

“Every student, no matter where they live or where they go to school, deserves to feel safe in the classroom and in their communities, free from the fear of gun violence. California has long been at the forefront on gun violence prevention, and we know from the evidence that our strong gun safety laws save lives. But state laws alone are not sufficient to address a national epidemic of gun violence that is causing a devastating public health crisis for our children.

“Today, in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, we are encouraged by the bipartisan passage of this commonsense federal gun legislation, the most significant advance in national gun safety laws in decades. But make no mistake, today’s action must only be a first step. We urge lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to continue their work to pass comprehensive solutions to address gun violence, now the leading cause of death for our nation’s children. The United States has had at least 2,654 mass shootings since 2012, when the Sandy Hook massacre killed 20 children and six educators. We must never allow these massacres to become acceptable or tolerable. We must not rest until every child, every parent and every teacher feels truly safe in their communities and schools, and free to focus on teaching and learning.”

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The 310,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association.