Washington (March 14, 2018) – As students in Massachusetts and across the country walk out of class this morning to protest gun violence in schools, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement:

“To all of the committed students walking out of class today to protest gun violence in our schools – I hear you, I stand with you, and I pledge to fight for you in your students’ crusade.

“We must ensure our schools are safe spaces for students, teachers, and staff. A place to grow, and learn, and be challenged. None of this can happen if students feel physically unsafe while at school.

“That is why I have the introduced the Making America Safe and Secure Act, or MASS Act. Massachusetts has some of the strongest gun safety laws in the country, and it is no surprise that we also have the lowest rate of gun deaths. The MASS Act would incentivize other states to adopt similar gun licensing laws that have been proven to be effective at keeping our schools and communities safe.

“Today, students across the Commonwealth and the country remind us that gun violence in schools cannot be tolerated and must be the number one priority for all elected officials. We owe it to the 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and to every school in the country to join them in their rallying cry – Not One More.”

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