Pew Research: Teachers Reveal Concerns About Active Shooter Readiness in U.S. Schools

A new Pew Research Center survey reveals that a quarter of U.S. public school teachers (23%) say their school went into a lockdown in the 2022-23 school year due to a gun or suspicion of a gun on campus.  This includes 15% who experienced one lockdown and 8% who experienced multiple lockdowns.

High school teachers were the most likely to report these lockdowns, with 34% saying their school had at least one gun-related lockdown. Teachers in urban schools were also more likely to experience lockdowns compared to suburban and rural schools.

The survey also found that many teachers do not feel their schools have adequately prepared them to respond to an active shooter situation. About 4 in 10 teachers (39%) say their school has done a "fair" or "poor" job providing the necessary training and resources. Only 30% gave their school an "excellent" or "very good" rating for active shooter preparedness.

Teachers' views on prevention strategies differed along partisan lines. Republican-leaning teachers were more likely than Democratic-leaning teachers to support measures like armed security, metal detectors, and allowing teachers to carry guns in schools. However, majorities in both parties agreed that improving mental health screening and treatment would be an effective approach.

These findings come as school shootings have reached a record high, with 82 incidents reported in 2023 so far. Gun violence prevention continues to be a major political issue heading into the 2024 elections.