With yet another school shooting tragedy on the books, the country is bound to hear lots of "condolences" without any promises of concrete change. Even though they know guns are the leading cause of death for young Americans, and that school shootings have risen exponentially, politicians have been paralyzed in stepping up with better policy. It's shameful that both political parties have failed to advance meaningful change on the unacceptable issue of school shootings.
While it's vital to find political and public policy solutions to school shooting tragedies, it's paramount to listen to teachers as well. While teachers have varied views, research indicates that they widely agree that school shootings can be reduced by mental health screenings and treatment — both for children and adults. Fully giving school systems the resources they need based on teachers' guidance is a logical, immediate starting point for addressing this crisis.