NEA President Becky Pringle issues statement regarding the mass shooting in Appalachee High School

"All students deserve safe and welcoming learning environments free from gun violence. Schools should be the safest places in any community. But just as the new school year gets underway, lives have been shattered by yet another tragic mass shooting - this time at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.

"We grieve for the students, educators, and families in the Winder community. We cannot - and will not - normalize mass shootings. We remain committed to ending gun violence and to demanding our elected leaders enact gun safety measures that make it safe for everyone to walk to school, attend church, or shop at a grocery store without fear of violence. We owe that to our children."

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.