JGVPR Statement on Oroville, CA School Shooting
From JWI’s Jewish Gun Violence Prevention Roundtable on December 5, 2024:
We are heartbroken by the tragic school shooting at the Feather River Adventist School in Oroville, California, in which two kindergarten students were critically injured, the 78th reported school shooting this calendar year. Authorities have received information that the school was targeted due to its religious affiliation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, the Seventh Day Adventist community, and all those affected by this devastating event.
The Jewish Gun Violence Prevention Roundtable stands in solidarity with the victims and their families and reaffirms our commitment to disarming hate and advocating for safer schools and stronger gun violence prevention measures. In the wake of this tragedy, we urge our lawmakers and community leaders to:
Disarm hate by prohibiting individuals convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime from possessing, purchasing, or receiving firearms or ammunition.
Enact common-sense gun violence prevention measures, such as universal background checks, waiting periods, safe storage requirements, restrictions on high-capacity magazines, and extreme risk laws to prevent individuals in crisis from accessing firearms.
Invest in early intervention and prevention programs to address the root causes of violence and provide support to at-risk individuals before tragedies occur.
Foster a culture of empathy, inclusion, and mutual respect within our schools and communities to prevent future acts of violence and promote positive relationships among students and peers.
As we pray for healing for the gravely injured students and for the Feather River Adventist School community, let us also draw strength from our shared commitment to creating a safer and more compassionate world for all.
Jewish Women International (JWI) is the leading Jewish organization working to end violence against women and girls domestically and internationally. JWI's National Center on Domestic & Sexual Violence in the Jewish Community is the hub of resources, trainings, and research to support the field. It convenes The Collaborative, the network of all Jewish domestic violence agencies in the U.S. and established and hosts the Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Clergy Task Force to End Domestic Abuse in the Jewish Community. A Steering Committee member of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, JWI’s advocacy efforts focus on the passage of legislation that supports women and girls, ensures their economic security, and protects their right to live free of violence.