Jayapal Statement on Shooting at Seattle High School
SEATTLE – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement after a shooting at Ingraham High School in north Seattle in which one student was murdered:
“My heart goes out to the family of the student who was horrifically murdered, and the students, teachers, and staff who were left devastated and heartbroken by this tragic, senseless, and horrific tragedy at Ingraham High School. This is a dark and heavy day for our city as we are once again confronted with the epidemic of gun violence that has roiled our country. To every parent in our city, my heart goes out to you and I promise you that I will not stop working to ensure that when you send your child to school, that they will return home to you safe and without worrying for their life.
“I am very grateful to the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle Fire Department for their speedy and efficient response. Thank you to the educators and staff at Ingraham and throughout our city’s public school system who help our children work through their traumas with compassion and grace and are often left with the work of addressing so many issues that are left at their doorstep because of failures in our broader system. We are all indebted to you.
“This is a multi-faceted crisis that requires comprehensive solutions, including at the federal level. Gun violence is a uniquely American epidemic and we must tackle it. In Congress, just this year, we passed the first major gun safety law in almost 30 years. But there is much more to do on gun safety legislation that is common sense and will save lives. We must also take on the crisis of mental health, and particularly youth mental health. Through the American Rescue Plan and through annual federal appropriations, we have provided more funding for mental health resources and for our schools. Just last month, I held a town hall focused on youth mental health, where our young people and leaders of community organizations tackling this crisis shared their stories and their solutions about what they need to survive and thrive. The reality is that violence can never be the answer. Our young people, need real tools and resources to help them get through the challenges of our world today and to find solutions that don’t involve guns and violence to address disagreements. And all our educators need help to ensure that we have strong approaches in our schools to stop bullying and violence. I will continue to fight for a fulsome approach to addressing the gun violence crisis in our country, including mental health resources, gun safety legislation, and investing in violence interruption, so that our children never have to fear for their lives going to school ever again.”
Issues: Public Safety & Criminal Justice