Association demands Congress finally address the use of assault weapons in school shootings

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Dec. 14, 2022)—The following statement can be attributed to National PTA President Anna King:

“Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. We continue to mourn the precious lives lost that day, and we will forever hold the families impacted by that horrible day close to our hearts, as well as every family and community that has experienced gun violence. And we continue to demand action and change to help save lives and make our schools and communities safer for everyone.

“Since the shooting at Sandy Hook, there have been far too many more school shootings, including the shooting in May of this year at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. For too long, we have watched in horror as assault weapons have been deployed against children and educators in school buildings as well as innocent individuals in public facilities. The anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook is a yet another sad reminder of why we need to continue our push for solutions to eliminate gun violence and ensure every child learns in an environment that is safe and can grow into a happy and healthy adult.

“While the enactment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act this summer was a significant step forward, it is not enough to ensure our children’s safety from gun violence. Our association urges Congress to finally address the use of assault weapons in school shootings before another child or educator’s life is lost and even more families and communities must heal from tragedy. And it is critical that we address the social, economic and behavioral causes that lead to the multi-faceted problem and cycle of violence, particularly in incidents that involve firearms.

“PTA members across the country have played a critical role in advocating for common sense solutions to gun violence. It remains a top priority of our association to prevent and eliminate gun violence, promote the safety and well-being of all children, and ensure every child has every opportunity to reach their full potential. We will never stop speaking loudly and demanding more for every child and young person across our country. We urge everyone to join us as we are louder and stronger together.”

Visit PTA.org/GunViolencePrevention and join us in demanding action and change on gun violence prevention. And use our VoterVoice system to send an urgent message to your members of Congress to insist they ban the sale and possession of assault weapons for individuals under the age of 21.

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.