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Statistics

"Will They Tell? Weapons Reporting by Middle-School Youth," Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, June 2007

  • 70% of youth responded they would report another student who brought a weapon to school
  • 83% said they would report another student if they could do it anonymously
  • 70% would report a friend if they could do it anonymously
  • Over 50% said they would definitely or probably report even if people might think they were a snitch or a tattletale
  • Only 3.3% said they would never report a weapon threat
  • Click here to read the full study

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, 2007

  • 1,011,791 high school students across America take a weapon to school at least once every 30 days
  • 943,195 high school students feel too unsafe to even go to school at least once every 30 days
  • 5.2% of high school students carry a gun at least once every 30 days
  • 1.35 million high school students are threatened or injured with a weapon on school property at least once every year
  • Visit the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System web site

"Safe School Initiative," developed by the US Secret Service and US Department of Education 2002

Benenson Strategy Group survey for PAX, July 24, 2001

  • 52% of students know of an incident where someone brought a weapon to school. Of those, 61% did nothing about it
  • 52% of students have heard of a threat of weapons-related violence in school. Of those, 56% did nothing about it
  • 13% of students know of someone who has brought a gun to school. Of those, 67% did nothing about it
  • 52% of students could get a gun if they wanted one. 35% could get one in less than a week. 15% could get one in less than a day
  • 51% whose families keep a gun in the home could get one in a week compared to 28% whose families do not keep a gun in the house
  • Over 75% of students in homes with guns know where a gun is hidden
  • 92% of students say they would definitely (71%) or probably (21%) report it to an adult if they knew someone brought a gun to school
  • 81% of students say they would definitely (48%) or probably (33%) report it to an adult if they knew someone brought another weapon to school
  • 86% of students say they would definitely (56%) or probably (30%) report it to an adult if they heard a student make a threat of weapons-related violence against another student, against a teacher or administrator or against the school itself
  • 89% of students say it would be very (63%) or somewhat important (26%) that their involvement in speaking up would be secret
  • 94% of students strongly (61%) or somewhat support (33%) the concept behind the 1-866-SPEAK-UP hotline