Executive Summary
- Advocate Toya Smith proposes federal legislation for mandatory active shooter training in schools.
- Data cited indicates 391 mass shootings in the US as of mid-December 2025.
- 74% of students and 70% of parents reportedly support safety training programs.
- A December 13 security incident at Brown University is cited as a catalyst for the proposal.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Following a reported surge in gun violence affecting educational institutions, author and safety advocate Toya Smith has publicly called for federal legislation to mandate active shooter training across all American primary schools and colleges. The push for standardized safety protocols comes in the wake of updated statistics regarding mass shootings in 2025 and recent security concerns at Brown University.
Data cited by Smith indicates that as of December 15, 2025, approximately 391 mass shootings have occurred in the United States this year. Retrospective data from 2023 highlighted by the advocate suggests that colleges experienced 36 percent of the more than 600 incidents recorded that year. Smith argues that these statistics demonstrate a critical need for comprehensive safety systems that protect students from primary education through university.
The proposal references a specific security incident involving the Brown University community on December 13, 2025, which reportedly intensified local discussions regarding campus safety. Smith contends that the current threat landscape necessitates federal intervention to ensure all students are equipped with emergency response skills.
The proposed legislative framework outlined by Smith aims to secure federal funding to establish mandatory training programs. These programs would focus on situational awareness, specific emergency response procedures, and crisis management techniques. Support for such measures appears substantial; the National Education Association reported that 74 percent of surveyed students favor mandatory training for college attendees. Additionally, a study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that 70 percent of parents support safety education for primary school children.
The political landscape remains a significant factor in the potential advancement of such legislation. The issue of gun regulation continues to divide lawmakers, with Democratic leadership generally favoring stricter control measures, including background checks and emergency seizure laws. Conversely, Republican leaders prioritize Second Amendment protections and often oppose federal mandates viewed as restrictive. This partisan divide poses a challenge to the passage of comprehensive school safety bills.
Legislative Outlook
The call for mandatory active shooter training represents a shift from gun control debates to disaster preparedness strategies within the educational sector. While bipartisan support is often difficult to secure for firearms legislation, funding for student safety training may face fewer hurdles if framed as a public safety imperative rather than a gun rights issue. However, the implementation of federal mandates on local school districts typically encounters scrutiny regarding funding allocation and curriculum standardization. The success of this specific proposal will likely depend on its ability to navigate the polarized congressional environment by focusing on student resilience and emergency management rather than the contentious politics of firearm regulation.
