BURLINGAME – California Teachers Association President Eric C. Heins issued the following statement today regarding this morning’s student-involved shooting at Salvador Castro Middle School in Los Angeles:

“We are saddened by the senseless shooting at Castro Middle School today that has left one student in critical condition, and we hope for the full recovery of both 15-year-old victims. We are reaching out to the school offering support as the faculty and students deal with the impact of this terrible act. The fact that the alleged shooter appears to have been a 12-year old student underscores the need for society to do more to curb the spread of gun violence, and especially to keep firearms out of the hands of children and teens.

“Every incident like this reminds us that we must do all we can to ensure that school campuses and classrooms remain safe places for all students. In the wake of similar tragedies, the National Education Association has several educator resources to help students and parents feel safe at school.”

###

The 325,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated
with the 3 million-member National Education Association.