Back to School Brings Back Gun Violence in Schools: Prosecutors Should Hold Parents Accountable in School Shooting Cases

In Last Two Days, Young Students in Florida and Washington State Have Been Arrested In Gun-Related Cases

Danbury, CT — With Back-to-School season already bringing a surge of gun violence in schools, Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence is encouraging prosecutors to hold parents accountable in cases where students bring unsecured firearms to school. 

Just yesterday, media reports revealed that a 9-year-old student in Florida brought a loaded .38 to school. Meanwhile, today, media reports in Washington state revealed that a 13-year-old student was arrested after police found a large collection of guns and "mass shooting scenario" writings at his home.

“In the last two days, we’ve seen shocking stories where students could have committed unimaginable acts of violence because parents have not properly secured their firearms in the home,” said Abbey Clements, executive director of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. “Far too many students live in homes with a weapon that’s not secured. We need more prosecutors to use all the tools they have to hold parents accountable and send a clear message to parents that securing their guns saves lives.”

Both Washington State and Florida have laws that require firearms be stored locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition in certain circumstances. According to the University of Michigan, 1 in 3 homes with a child under 18 has a firearm and 45 percent of those homes have an unlocked firearm.

In 2024 in Michigan, parents of the Oxford High School shooter were convicted on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, the first such case where parents were charged in a mass shooting at a school. Prosecutors in Georgia are proceeding with the second such case which has not yet gone to trial.

According to a study by the Secret Service, around two-thirds of school shootings take place because a firearm was not properly secured in the home. Guns are the leading cause of death for children in America. More than 397,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine. There have been more than 434 school shootings since 1999.

Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence envisions a future where every school in the United States is a safe haven and a safe learning environment for every child, and where all citizens live without the fear and trauma of gun violence. Its co-founders have over 75 years teaching experience combined and two are survivors of our most horrific school shootings – Newtown and Parkland.  

September 9, 2025

Contact: Press@teachersunify.org