39 It is not hard to imagine that,

with the shear enormity of such an exposure and possibility of unintentional (or intentional) discharge of these weapons, arming individuals in schools will actually have the unintended consequence of increasing risk to our children. One premise for arming individuals in our schools is that it will act as a deterrent. Such might be the case if the felonious use of a firearm in a school was a rational event. It is not. Another potential unintended consequence Ponatinib of ensuring an armed presence in our schools is the “up arming” of a potential shooter at a school to match or exceed the weapons perceived to exist in the target school. Such a possibility would increase the likelihood of additional casualties. The practice of arming teachers in the schools might also place these well-meaning educators in the way of perpetrators who have the advantage of planning. Not 1 of the 62 mass shootings in the last 30 years was stopped by an armed civilian.40In the absence of data supporting the salutary benefits of armed personnel in schools, APSA does NOT support a standard practice of arming teachers, parents, or other officials in the school setting. A meaningful reduction in the burden of firearms injury and death in the pediatric population will not happen with a single action

nor will it happen quickly. But, the lack of a “magic bullet” is not click here a reason to abandon common-sense efforts to limit the access and exposure to firearms

for children. The systematic and dramatic reduction in motor-vehicle–related injuries and death in both the adult and pediatric populations should serve as a model for success. Through modifications in the environment (roads), adoption of safety measures (seatbelts), modification of behavior (use of seatbelts), and modifications of vehicle design (eg, airbags)—a public health approach—change was realized. Former Congressman Jay Dickey, who helped author the bill restricting federal funding for firearms research, recently commented “…like motor vehicle injuries, violence exists in a cause-and-effect 3-oxoacyl-(acyl-carrier-protein) reductase world; things happen for predictable reasons. By studying the causes of a tragic—but not senseless—event, we can help prevent another.”41 With more than 300,000,000 guns in circulation in the United States, we as an Association and we as a nation need to develop ways to live safely in a world with guns. There are no guarantees that these measures would have prevented the tragedy at Sandy Hook, or the next Sandy Hook. But, what if they did? APSA believes that inaction is irrational and indefensible. This organization strongly supports the continuation of legislative, public health and policy recommendations detailed here in an effort to reduce the impact of gun violence on our children and youth.