Stop Gun Violence With a Reproductive Justice Approach

Stop Gun Violence With a Reproductive Justice Approach
7/12/2023 by Veronica Ray-Whitehead

Firearms are the leading cause of death among children ages 1-19 in the United States. An armed officer is a last resort. It is time to be proactive.



A memorial for the 19 children and two adults killed on May 24, 2022, during a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. (Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images)

The U.S. just mourned the one-year anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were killed, and 15 more children wounded. Despite multiple armed guards on campus at the time of the shooting, and 376 law enforcement officers eventually descending upon the school, no one was able to stop the gunman. How did the state of Texas respond to public cries demanding school safety? With House Bill 3, currently awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, which would require an armed officer on every school campus. On the national level, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) recently introduced the School Guardian Act, which proposes funding for an armed officer in every school from kindergarten through 12th grade in this country.

More guns on campuses won’t make people safer, researchers say. These campus-carry laws highlight our elected officials’ inability to keep children safe—which is a core tenant of reproductive justice. Founded in 1994 by the efforts of 12 Black women, reproductive justice is “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities,” as defined by SisterSong. The reproductive justice movement positions reproductive rights and health within the larger context of families and communities. The fight for reproductive justice, to keep children and all individuals safe, is inextricably linked to the urgent fight to end gun violence.



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By centering a reproductive justice approach, it is possible to establish safe and supportive communities to raise children with proactive systems and initiatives. Young men perpetrate the vast majority of gun violence, and early evidence suggests a change in social norms and behaviors around masculinity may reduce violent behavior. Mental health is not an indication or predictor of violence—and for the majority of persons, mental health treatment can often prevent potential gun violence. The most consistent and powerful predictor of violent behavior is a history of violent behavior.
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The reduction of mass gun violence in all arenas is going to take intervention on all levels, including:

policy, like the prohibition of guns for groups offenders of domestic violence and violent misdemeanors, background checks;
community, especially supporting parents in raising emotionally healthy children;
early violent behavior intervention; and
a change in social norms related to gun culture and violence.

Just as the reproductive justice movement advocates, it is time to respect and ensure the personal autonomy and human right of personal safety for all.

https://msmagazine.com/2023/07/12/texas-gun-violence-armed-guards-schools-reproductive-justice/