SEATTLE, Wash. – People across the nation are questioning the safety of their schools in the wake of the horrific shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
A doctor at Harborview Medical Center who has studied mass shootings says we can’t understand why these shootings happen, but measures can be taken to mitigate them.
Dr. Fred Rivara says the state of Washington has taken some of those steps.
“We have a law here that prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from buying a semi-automatic rifle. Such a law does not exist in the state of Texas,” said Rivara. “We have, just now this past year, passed a law to limit high-capacity magazines to ten rounds. Such a law does not exist in the state of Texas.”
He also praises Washington’s universal background check law, that screens each gun purchaser for their eligibility to buy a gun under federal law.
He encourages families to have age-appropriate conversations with kids about school safety.