Bill Overview
Title: Reduce Gun Violence Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides certain resources for schools to increase physical security and access to mental health resources.
Sponsors: Rep. Flores, Mayra [R-TX-34]
Target Audience
Population: People attending or employed by K–12 schools globally
Estimated Size: 56000000
- The bill targets schools, thus it directly impacts students attending these schools and staff working within them.
- The provision of mental health resources extends impact to students, teachers, and possibly families who interact with mental health professionals.
- Increased physical security in schools can affect not only teachers and students but also parents who are concerned about school safety.
- The focus on reducing gun violence implies a potential indirect benefit to the broader community around these schools, although they are not directly targeted by the bill.
Reasoning
- The budget constraints indicate that resources will be distributed across many schools, but not all schools may receive the same level of assistance, leading to varied impacts.
- Students and staff in highly funded schools may experience medium to high impacts with better access to mental health and safety improvements.
- Schools in under-resourced areas might see lower impacts due to budget limitations not meeting all needs.
- Populations in urban areas might have more access due to higher enrollment numbers and potential prioritization.
- Rural areas might receive less impact due to lower student numbers and logistical challenges, although need may be high.
Simulated Interviews
High School Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 15 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's good that they want more security. It makes me feel safer.
- Access to mental health resources is great because sometimes we just need someone to talk to.
- I hope they invest in enough counselors for everyone when needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Middle School Teacher (Houston, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad they're focusing on these issues. Teachers need support too.
- More counselors and better security measures could really help reduce some of the stress for teachers and students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
High School Student (New York, NY)
Age: 17 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My school already has a lot of security, but more mental health support could really benefit everyone.
- I don't think this policy changes much for me, but it might help some of my friends who struggle more.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Elementary School Principal (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be one of the most important initiatives for our schools in years.
- I hope we get enough funds to make a real impact—our kids need more therapists and better safety protocols.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
School District Administrator (Rochester, MN)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Equity is my main concern; will all schools really benefit from this policy?
- Balancing security upgrades and mental health resources will be a huge task.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
School Counselor (Albuquerque, NM)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see the daily impact mental health struggles have on students.
- Providing more resources could drastically change my workload and help more students effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
High School Graduate (Chicago, IL)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad my sibling will potentially feel safer and have better access to mental health help.
- It's overdue if you ask me, but better late than never.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Parent and PTA Member (Jackson, MS)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a mom, school safety and mental health support are top priorities for me.
- I hope both my kids' schools are prioritized, and the support networks are strengthened.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
High School Security Guard (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Current security measures are not adequate. Anything that improves this is necessary.
- I look forward to possible new equipment and improved protocols.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Public School Superintendent (Detroit, MI)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our district desperately needs the support that policies like these promise.
- I hope this is implemented fairly and transparently for best outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000000 (Low: $1800000000, High: $2200000000)
Year 2: $1900000000 (Low: $1700000000, High: $2100000000)
Year 3: $1800000000 (Low: $1600000000, High: $2000000000)
Year 5: $1700000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $1900000000)
Year 10: $1500000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1700000000)
Year 100: $1300000000 (Low: $1100000000, High: $1500000000)
Key Considerations
- The scalability of mental health services and security infrastructure across diverse school districts, especially those with varying resource levels.
- Balance of immediate costs versus long-term societal and economic benefits associated with reduced gun violence and improved mental health.
- Potential regulatory changes impacting how schools can implement security measures, affecting cost efficiency.
- The necessity for ongoing assessments of program effectiveness to maximize returns on investment.