Joe’s story
Joe’s daughter came home from third grade last Tuesday and told him about the lockdown drill. They had to turn off the lights and hide in the corner and be really, really quiet.
She asked him if the bad guys could still get in. He didn’t know what to say.
Joe isn’t anti-gun. He grew up with guns. His dad hunted. He gets it. But he can’t figure out why nothing ever changes. Every few months there’s another shooting, everyone cries on TV, and then… nothing. Back to normal. Until the next one.
Joe doesn’t think that’s normal. He just doesn’t know who to be mad at.
The facts, plain and simple
330
School shootings in 2024 — second highest ever recorded
#1
Guns are now the leading cause of death for American kids
92%
Of Americans support background checks for all gun sales
30 yrs
Since Congress passed any major federal gun legislation before 2022
Guns became the number one killer of American children and teenagers — passing car accidents. That’s not political spin. That’s CDC data. The school shooting numbers have been climbing year after year, with the four highest years on record all happening in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Most Americans agree something needs to change. Background checks, red flag laws, raising the age to buy assault weapons — these ideas poll above 70%, 80%, even 90% support across party lines. So why hasn’t anything happened?
What Republicans have done about it
202 House Republicans voted against the background checks bill
The Bipartisan Background Checks Act would have helped keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. 202 House Republicans voted no.
201 House Republicans voted against the red flag bill
Red flag laws let police temporarily remove weapons from someone who is a danger to themselves or others. 201 Republicans said no.
34 Senate Republicans blocked gun safety after Uvalde
Two days after 19 children were shot dead at Robb Elementary School, Senate Republicans voted to block even bringing a gun safety bill to the floor for debate.
In 2025, Republicans introduced 26 bills to loosen gun laws
With full control of Congress, the Republican agenda includes eliminating the ATF, removing silencer regulations, and expanding concealed carry — not reducing school shootings.
What could actually change things
Universal background checks
Currently, private sales and gun shows can skip background checks entirely. Closing that loophole is supported by 9 out of 10 Americans. It has been blocked in the Senate repeatedly.
Red flag laws
These let family members or law enforcement ask a court to temporarily remove guns from someone showing warning signs. Studies show they reduce gun suicides and have prevented mass shootings.
Raising the minimum age for assault weapons
You have to be 21 to buy a handgun from a licensed dealer, but only 18 to buy an AR-15. Most recent mass school shooters were under 21. Only 10 House Republicans voted to change this.
When someone pushes back — what to say
They say:
“It’s a mental health problem, not a gun problem.”
Agreed — mental health matters. But we have mental illness in every country. We’re the only one with this many shootings. The difference is the guns. And Republicans voted against the $2.35 billion mental health funding that was in the gun safety bill anyway.
They say:
“Gun laws don’t stop criminals. They’ll just find another way.”
Most school shooters aren’t career criminals — they’re troubled kids who got access to a gun. Background checks and red flag laws are specifically designed to catch people before they become criminals. 92% of Americans think that’s worth trying.
They say:
“The Second Amendment protects my rights.”
No one’s talking about taking your hunting rifle. Background checks, red flag laws, age limits on military-style weapons — none of that bans guns. It just makes it harder for the wrong people to get them. Every right has reasonable limits.
The answer to school shootings is SVR.
Stop Voting Republican — until they stop blocking solutions.
Back to all issues