Gun Violence

Photo by Heather Mount on Unsplash

There are 393 million legally owned guns in the United States, more than the total population of our nation. Gun violence is a major public health crisis in the United States, especially for young people. Guns are now the leading cause of death for children and teenagers. Youth who live in urban areas are at even higher risk of being injured or killed by guns.

There have been at least 130 mass shootings in the United States so far in 2023, leaving more than 175 people dead and 475 injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA). And guns are the leading cause of deaths by suicide in the United States.

As our nation grapples with a gun violence epidemic, here are resources for social workers and supporters of the profession who want to address this problem:

Take Action

• Tell your lawmakers to  Expand and Strengthen Brady Background Checks
• Brady campaign to prevent gun violence - NASW is a campaign partner
• Visit the NASW School Safety Resources page for more tools and ways to get involved

NASW Resources

• Violence in Schools: Prevention Is Key - Social Work Advocates, Aug/Sept 2018
• Tools for Social Workers to Prevent Gun Violence - NASW Social Justice Brief

Helping Children Cope with Traumatic Events

• National Education Association (NEA) School Crisis Guide
  Knowing what to do in a crisis can be the difference between stability and upheaval. This step-by-step resource created by educators can make it easier for school staff to keep schools safe before, during, and after a crisis.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
  NCTSN resources can help parents and children deal with catastrophic mass violence events and natural disasters, including examples of children’s reactions and how parents can respond.
• Talking to Children About Tragedies and Other News Events
  The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents, teachers, child care providers, and others who work closely with children to filter information about events and present it in a way that their child can accommodate.
• Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News
  It's normal for both adults and kids to feel anxious after these events. Learn what you can do to minimize the stress.
• Incidents of Mass Violence
  Find disaster-related resources from SAMHSA.