Gun-Related Lockdowns in US Schools
Teachers’ Experiences with Lockdowns
About 1 in 4 U.S. teachers reported that their school went into a "gun-related lockdown" during the 2022-23 school year, according to new findings from the Pew Research Center. The teachers told NBC News that they experienced lockdowns "because of a gun or suspicion of a gun at their school," with around 15% saying it happened once during the year and 8% saying it happened more than once.
School Type and Lockdown Frequency
High school teachers were most likely to report experiencing gun-related lockdowns, with 34% saying their school went on at least one lockdown during the last school year. This compares with 22% of middle school teachers and 16% of elementary school teachers. Urban school teachers were more likely to say their school had a lockdown that was gun-related than teachers at rural schools and suburban schools.
Teachers’ Concerns and Preparedness
About 59% of K-12 public school teachers said they were "at least somewhat worried" about a shooting happening at their school, with 18% saying they were "extremely or very worried." Around 31% of teachers were "not too worried" about school shootings, and 7% were "not at all worried." Almost 40% of teachers surveyed said their school had done a fair or poor job preparing them to deal with a potential active shooter.
Prevention Measures
Most teachers (69%) said that "improving mental health screening and treatment" would be effective in preventing school shootings, while 13% said teachers and administrators carrying guns in school would be effective. Around 49% said having armed security in schools would be a big help, and 33% said the same about metal detectors.
Political Views and Prevention Measures
Teachers’ political views came into play when they were asked about what could be done to prevent school shootings. Republican-leaning teachers were more likely to support having armed security in school, metal detectors, and allowing teachers and administrators to carry guns in school.
Conclusion
The findings highlight the concerns and experiences of teachers in the United States, who are dealing with the reality of gun-related lockdowns in schools. The results also show that teachers have different opinions on prevention measures, with a focus on improving mental health screening and treatment.
FAQs
Q: What percentage of teachers reported gun-related lockdowns in their school?
A: About 1 in 4 U.S. teachers (25%) reported gun-related lockdowns in their school.
Q: Which school type was most likely to experience gun-related lockdowns?
A: High school teachers were most likely to report experiencing gun-related lockdowns, with 34% saying their school went on at least one lockdown during the last school year.
Q: How many teachers were worried about a shooting happening at their school?
A: About 59% of K-12 public school teachers said they were "at least somewhat worried" about a shooting happening at their school, with 18% saying they were "extremely or very worried."
