Advocacy groups for teachers, students and parents say shootings on school property reached a record number at the beginning of this school year, and the shooting at Timberview High School was simply the latest in the trend.
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According to the groups, Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, there were 30 cases of gunfire on school grounds across the country between August 1 and September 15.
That was the largest number over that period since Everytown for Gun Safety started tracking numbers in 2013. In those shootings, five were killed, and 23 were hurt.
"Sadly, back to school has meant back to school shootings for too many communities across the country," says Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action.
The two groups have released a list actions they would like the Biden Administration to take to prevent shootings at schools:
--Direct the Department of Education to develop a strategy to encourage school districts to send parents secure firearm storage information and raise awareness about the importance of secure storage in keeping schools safe.
--Publish guidance on the secure storage information schools should disseminate and on the methods to reach parents, and incorporate the guidance in upcoming convenings, trainings and webinars.
--Develop and provide recommendations on the best type of secure storage devices to prevent unauthorized access by students.
--Direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to complete the work initiated by the Obama Administration and review the effectiveness of gun locks and gun safes.
--Direct the Department of Justice to enforce the laws that prevent underage students from purchasing firearms and continue to call for Congressional action to close the loopholes in the background check law.
Watts says 54% of gun owners do not lock their guns, and she says at least 5.4 million children live in a home with at least one unlocked gun.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, says the federal government should take action to provide a "safe and welcoming environment in schools and on the street."
"The people of America, the people we serve and the people we represent demand it," she says.
Joe Erardi served as superintendent of schools in Newtown, Connecticut after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. He says the groups are right to call for federal action, but individual districts should also bring awareness to the need to lock guns.
"To me, that is an absolute, no-cost or low-cost solution, and it's a big part of the success we want going forward to reduce what's presently taking place," he says.
The suspect at Timberview, Timothy Simpkins, 18, has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He posted bond and was released from jail Thursday.
Relatives say Simpkins had been bullied, and Arlington police say they have seen video of a fight that appears to show a 15 year old student hit Simpkins repeatedly.
That 15 year old was among the three who were shot and is now recovering at the hospital. Police say he might ultimately face charges as well.
"Through our investigation, nothing is off the table. I've committed that there will be accountability and we are looking into any conduct that could be criminal conduct by him. Even though there was a fight and it looked like it was a pretty brutal fight, there’s still no justification to bring a gun in a school," says Arlington Police Assistant Chief Kevin Kolbye.
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