Whereas, the U.S. confronts an epidemic of violence that no other nation experiences, resulting from and exacerbated by weak gun control laws; and

Whereas, the murder of children and teachers in U.S. schools by guns is a daily threat to every parent, child, educator, educational professional, and school community; and

Whereas, individuals armed with guns killed more than 3,000 people in the U.S. just during the month of January 2023 alone; and

Whereas, our schools should be safe havens where students feel secure and ready to learn; where parents can send their children in the morning knowing they will safely return at the end of the day; and where teachers and school employees can feel confident that they are not in danger in their workplace; and

Whereas, the prevalence of mass shootings threatens to turn our sacred spaces, our joyful places, our leisure, and our worksites into places of horror and senseless violence; and

Whereas, calling out weak gun control laws requires responses and solutions that treat gun violence as the public health crisis it is; and

Whereas, the CFT has adopted resolutions and taken actions repeatedly over the past decade to condemn gun violence and demand safety measures and stronger gun control in our communities; and

Whereas, the vast majority of Americans favor background checks, bans on assault weapons, and stricter gun regulations, but there is no political will to enact national legislation that would make our nation safer; 

Therefore, be it resolved, that the CFT will continue to advocate for universal background checks, stricter gun regulations that include such things as mandatory and standardized training and licensing for gun ownership in all U.S. states and territories, and the reinstatement of the national ban on assault weapons; and

Be it further resolved, that the CFT takes this action in solidarity with communities that are targeted most; and

Be it further resolved, that the CFT will vehemently oppose wrong-headed and counterproductive policy ideas like arming faculty and staff; and 

Be it further resolved, that the CFT demands a safe and protected environment for students and educators in schools and supports efforts calling for more funding for mental health services, school psychologists, social workers, school counselors, and other school support personnel so that trained professionals have a better chance of identifying students in crisis, which in turn allows intervening measures to be placed before tragedy strikes; and

Be it further resolved, that the CFT expresses the union’s sorrow and dismay to and for the communities victimized by mass shootings, and simultaneously stands in solidarity and commitment with these communities to rise from the ashes fighting against future occurrences of such injustice; and

Be it finally resolved, that the CFT unequivocally condemns racism or any violent ideology behind such acts of cowardice and terror.

• Submitted by the CFT Executive Council