The two largest teachers unions in the country, the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association, have joined the anti-gun group Everytown for Gun Safety to release a report in which they oppose active shooter drills for students, writing, “Mental health professionals have begun warning about the effect of these drills on students’ well-being and about the possible short and long-term consequences on school performance and physical and mental health.” They add, “Our organizations do not recommend training for students and firmly believe that schools must be very mindful of the impact of active shooter drills that involve students and take that into consideration when designing such programs and determining whether to include students.”
The report states, “Active shooter incidents in schools are tragic and traumatize communities and the nation.” It argues, “Though there is scant evidence that they are effective at preventing deaths in school shooting situations, school-based drills are required in at least 40 states.5 But state statutes on this type of drill are often vague and leave the nature, content, and identification of who participates in these drills up to the interpretation of school administrators.”
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