SCHOOL SAFETY - Commission Recommendations

"Do the recommendations from the school safety commission go far enough?" PBS NewsHour 12/18/2018

aka "Turning Our Schools into Fortresses" but no gun control.  #NeverAgain  #StandAgainstNRA

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SUMMARY:  Citing a "holistic" approach to school safety, a federal commission led by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has released proposals on student mental health, cyber bullying, and discipline.  For different perspectives on the report, Amna Nawaz talks to Catherine Lhamon, former Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, and Jeanne Allen, CEO of Center for Education Reform.

Judy Woodruff (NewsHour):  There have been 24 school shootings where someone was injured or killed this year at American public elementary, middle and high schools; 35 people have been killed, 28 of them students.  Another 79 people have been injured.

Those are the latest stats that our colleagues at Education Week have been tracking.  It's one of the worst years on modern record.

And yet there are still enormous differences of opinion about what should be done for school safety.

WARNING SIGNS - New Report on Sandy Hook

#NeverAgain  #StandAgainstNRA

"New report offers chilling picture of Sandy Hook killer’s troubled mind" PBS NewsHour 12/14/2018

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SUMMARY:  Six years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, a new report from The Hartford Courant paints a chilling picture of the killer, who struggled with loneliness, disdain for humanity, and multiple psychiatric problems.  William Brangham talks with reporter Josh Kovner about whether the new revelations could offer lessons for preventing future violence.

AGAIN - Thousand Oaks Mass Shooting

#StandAgainstNRA  #NeverAgain

"Thousand Oaks community ‘on edge’ after deadly mass shooting" PBS NewsHour 11/8/2018

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SUMMARY:  In Thousand Oaks, California, a bar’s “College Country Night” turned into carnage as a gunman opened fire on revelers.  Frantic patrons used bar stools to smash windows and escape, but 12 people were killed before the shooter apparently turned the gun on himself.  Police identified the gunman as a 28-year-old former Marine who had served in Afghanistan.  Mary MacCarthy of Feature Story News reports.

NEWSHOUR BOOKSHELF - "#NeverAgain"

"David and Lauren Hogg never thought it would happen in Parkland.  Now they say #NeverAgain" PBS NewsHour 8/9/2018

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SUMMARY:  It’s been almost six months since the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed.  But out of that tragedy emerged a group of students dedicated to preventing future school shootings, including David and Lauren Hogg.  Hari Sreenivasan recently spoke with them about their movement and new book, “#NeverAgain.”

SCHOOL SHOOTING, AGAIN - Galveston, Texas

When are YOU (the voter) going to say enough, and through out politicians who do nothing to protect your children?

"Texas school shooting days before graduation draws governor’s call for new gun laws" PBS NewsHour 5/18/2018

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SUMMARY:  Students, parents and teachers suffered the agony of a school shooting on Friday morning near Galveston, Texas, where at least 10 people were murdered and 10 more wounded.  The suspect, a 17-year-old according to media reports, is being held on a capital murder charge.  Judy Woodruff learns more from Gail Delaughter of Houston Public Media.

ENOUGH! - Another National Student Walkout

"‘Enough of killing, enough of being scared’: Students stage another gun violence walkout" PBS NewsHour 4/20/2018

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SUMMARY:  From Houston to Indianapolis, thousands of students walked out of schools Friday morning to participate in staged sit-ins, marches, and moments of silence to demand action on gun legislation and mark the 19th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado.  Lisa Desjardins reports on the renewed push for gun control and what change it could bring in Washington.

"How this Columbine survivor is helping scared students" PBS NewsHour 4/20/2018

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SUMMARY:  When Lindsey O’Donnell survived the Columbine High School shooting at age 17, she relied on friends and family to cope with the anxiety that remained.  Now a physical education teacher, she’s discovered fitness and mindfulness can also help alleviate the fear, and prepare her students for handling other stressful situations.  NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs bring us her story.

NEVER AGAIN - A Bond, Sandy Hook + Parkland

"Friends who survived Sandy Hook and Parkland are on a mission to ‘move the needle’ on gun reform" PBS NewsHour 3/27/2018

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SUMMARY:  Among the hundreds of thousands at last weekend's March for Our Lives in Washington were two women who share an uncanny bond.  Friends for over three decades, Yvonne Cech and Diana Haneski, are also both school librarians, who survived different shooting massacres at Sandy Hook Elementary and Stoneman Douglas High School.  William Brangham reports on their fight for change.

NEVER AGAIN - March for Our Lives

"Parkland victim’s father:  We will get gun reform in the U.S." PBS NewsHour 3/22/2018

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SUMMARY:  Children want to be able to go to school, church and the mall without fear of being shot, and they are going to demand it, says Fred Guttenberg, a vocal advocate for reforming the nation's gun laws since his 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed in the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  Guttenberg joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the coming March For Our Lives and more.

"Teenagers will lead the charge and demand change at anti-gun violence March for Our Lives" PBS NewsHour 3/23/2018

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SUMMARY:  Students and other demonstrators across the country will protest gun violence Saturday.  In Washington, survivors of last month's deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, will stage their March for Our Lives rally.  John Yang follows some of the students as they prepare for the big day.

"Youth voices take center stage at March for Our Lives" PBS NewsHour 3/24/2018

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SUMMARY:  Students across the country flooded into the streets on Saturday to call for stricter gun control laws in the wake of the Parkland school shooting that killed 17 people in Florida last month.  Among the tens of thousands who rallied in Washington, D.C., was a group of students from Patriot High School in Virginia.  NewsHour Weekend's Christopher Booker, who traveled with them, has more.

GUNS IN AMERICA - Our Nations' Student Walkout

"Student walkouts protesting shootings will vary around the country — and so will their schools’ responses" PBS NewsHour 3/13/2018

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SUMMARY:  To mark the one-month anniversary of the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, students are planning walkouts around the country for Wednesday.  Organizers expect more than 200,000 students in all 50 states will participate.  But how schools handle these walkouts has been a matter of some concern.  William Brangham learns more from special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week.

"‘The adults have failed us.  This is in our hands now’: Thousands stage school walkout over gun violence" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2018

All adults should hand their heads in shame.

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SUMMARY:  Students and teachers walked out of class Wednesday morning by the tens of thousands to protest gun violence and remember the victims of last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida.  Back in Washington, lawmakers pressed the FBI on why it didn't act on tips about the attacker prior to the shooting, and heard from those directly impacted by the violence.  William Brangham reports.

"Kids who walked out see their generation as the one ‘getting things done’ on the gun debate" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2018

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SUMMARY:  Ceilidh Kern, a sophomore, and Jaylah Ross, a junior, are two students who participated in the March 14 school walkouts, and are part of a team from more than a dozen of our Student Reporting Labs who are covering the day's events for the NewsHour.  They join Judy Woodruff to discuss why they walked out, the passion driving children to participate and what they would say directly to policymakers.

GUNS IN AMERICA - Trump Policy Purchased by the NRA

REMINDER:  Trump's attention span is that of a 5 year old, and he makes snap statements he thinks the on-the-spot audience wants to hear.  Also, 'national commission' = nothing will actually be done.

"Trump defends reversal on gun purchase age limit as White House forms school safety commission" PBS NewsHour 3/12/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Trump unveiled his plan for school safety and gun violence, dialing back an earlier call he made to raise the age limit for buying some guns.  Instead it includes support for a number of more modest measures, including fixes to the current background check system and arms training for educators, and creates a national commission to review other possibilities.  John Yang reports.

"What Trump’s plan to prevent school shootings leaves out" PBS NewsHour 3/12/2018

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SUMMARY:  Will President Trump’s school safety plan help stop mass shootings?  Judy Woodruff gets reaction from Shannon Watts of "Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America," and Katherine Newman, author of “Rampage,” on plans to arm educators, expand mental health treatment and enact a commission to study the problem.

GUNS IN AMERICA - The NRA/Gun Debate

"Trump says it’s O.K. to fight the NRA ‘every once in a while’" PBS NewsHour 2/26/2018

WARNING:  Trump lies and panders to NRA.

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SUMMARY:  President Trump called again for banning bump stocks during a listening session with the nation's governors, even if it means breaking with the NRA.  But in returning to the idea of arming trained teachers, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee urged him to take it off the table.  Meanwhile, lawmakers on Capitol Hill face a number of proposals, but it’s not clear if anything can pass.  Hari Sreenivasan reports.

"How this powerful NRA lobbyist transformed U.S. gun laws" PBS NewsHour 2/26/2018

IMHO the NRA is a domestic terrorist organization.

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SUMMARY:  As Florida's legislature begins to consider changes to gun laws in the wake of the deadly shooting at a Parkland high school, the question of whether anything will pass has a great deal to do with the powerful voice of the NRA in that state.  Mike Spies, a staff writer for The Trace who wrote about the NRA's past successes for The New Yorker, joins Hari Sreenivasan for more.

"Congress is chewing over several gun proposals.  What’s really possible?" PBS NewsHour 2/27/2018

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SUMMARY:  Students-turned-activists from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were in the halls of Congress on Tuesday to press for more gun control.  Senate Republicans pointed to a bill that would push more agencies to work with the background check system.  But Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer says that doesn't go far enough.  Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff for more.

"Trump, lawmakers seek common ground on gun control" PBS NewsHour 2/28/2018

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SUMMARY:  Students returned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday for their first classes since a Valentine's Day shooting, with many saying they would keep fighting for stricter gun control laws.  Meanwhile, President Trump met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to talk about legislation, backing better background checks and arming teachers or other school workers.  John Yang reports.

"Here’s how American companies are responding to the Florida school shooting" PBS NewsHour 3/1/2018

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SUMMARY:  Students and educators were gunned down at their school in Parkland, Florida, two weeks ago, and corporate America is responding.  Kroger announced that stores will no longer sell firearms and ammunition to buyers under 21, joining Walmart and Dick's this week in restricting sales of various items.  Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports other companies are distancing themselves from the NRA.

"Will corporate leaders taking a stand on guns have a contagious effect?" PBS NewsHour 3/1/2018

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SUMMARY:  As public demand for action on gun control gains traction in the wake of the Florida school shooting, companies such as Delta Air Lines and Walmart are taking steps to distance themselves from the NRA.  Hari Sreenivasan is joined by Nancy Koehn of the Harvard Business School to discuss what is triggering corporate America to engage in the gun debate and whether this can lead to change.