Hackathon Presentation: Policy Advice

By: Team Economics

Problem

• Mass shootings in educational settings like schools are a complicated problem that calls for a multifaceted strategy.
• A comprehensive policy approach that addresses both the physical safety of schools and the mental health of students and employees should be put in place in order to effectively avoid mass shootings.

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Policy 1 - Military/Police Funding

We would suggest to implement a policy where we would make an adjustment towards the funding of the military/police forces to share smaller portions of such specific funding. According to the Security Police Reform Institute, “$118bn was spent funding police forces in the U.S. in 2018”. In addition, police funding is the second largest category of local government spending (after education). In one recent example, a mass school shooting occurred at an elementary school in Uvalde where there was a delayed law enforcement response to the scene hence, causing a large public uproar. We would implement a policy to share a portion of the police/military funding to increase police/first responders training towards an active shooter (or shooters).

Policy 2 - Increase Tax On Gun Purchases

We would suggest to implement a policy to increase the tax of gun purchases, in an attempt to lower availability of guns, without infringement of Second Amendment rights. As a result, this would possibly decrease the daily purchases of guns made, as well as the desire to purchase them. According to Rand, “A federal excise tax of 10–11 percent on the import and production of firearms and ammunition has been in place since 1919, but the rate has not been changed since it was first instituted…”. Additionally, “…most mass shootings are committed with non-automatic weapons, making them the weapons of choice, and supporting the notion that gun availability is a primary contributor to method of mass murder…” (Columbia Psychiatry). In our policy, we would contribute the extra money made from the taxation solely towards the national prevention of gun violence.

Policy 3 - Universal Background Checks.

• How they work: Universal background checks require a background check for all gun purchases, including those made at gun shows and through private sales. This policy ensures that individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms, such as those with criminal records or mental health issues, are unable to purchase guns.
• Why are they important: According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, states that require background checks for all gun sales have 35% fewer gun deaths per capita, including homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings. This policy can help prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands and reduce gun violence.
• How they work: Background checks are conducted by licensed gun dealers and involve a review of the purchaser's criminal record, mental health history, and other factors that may disqualify them from owning a gun. The process is quick, easy, and can help save lives.

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Policy 4: School Safety Measures

• How they work: School shootings have become a reality in our society, and it is important to take proactive measures to prevent deaths and injuries in the event of a shooting. Some potential strategies include:
• Training staff and students on active shooter response:
• Installing ballistic-resistant glass and doors
• Increasing the number of armed school resource officers
• Implementing a "See Something, Say Something" program
• Benefits: By implementing these strategies, schools can help prevent deaths and injuries in the event of a school shooting. They can also improve the overall safety and security of the school environment, giving students and staff more peace of mind and creating a better learning environment for everyone.

Data

Source from Data: https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting?page=5&sort=asc&order=Incident%20Date

Citations

Gun Sales Are Surging, But Background Checks Aren’t Keeping Up | FiveThirtyEight

https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/Protecting_Americas_Schools.pdf

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/active-shooter-safety-resources

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2022/11/14/health-harms-of-mass-shootings-ripple-across-communities

https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/essays/firearm-and-ammunition-taxes.html

https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/mass-shootings-and-mental-illness

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Thank you.