The United States government passed gun-free school zone legislation in 1990. Over three decades later, school shootings dominate headlines and political campaigns. Sadly, this legislation has been largely ineffective and may have cost more lives.
We wanted to know the effects of Gun-Free school zones. Here are a few highlights from our report:
- The Gun-Free School Zone Act was initially passed in 1990. Congress re-wrote and passed the bill again in 1995.
- Targeted attacks on schools have increased by 384% since the first bill passed.
- Firearm-related incidents on school campuses have increased by 327% since 1990.
Understanding school shootings is critical to preventing them. Sadly, varying definitions and politics have masked tangible solutions.