By several measures, 2024 is on course to be one of the worst ever in terms of gun violence on school campuses. My guest this episode to discuss these tragic incidents is David Riedman. David is the founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database, arguably the most complete accounting of school shootings in the United States. As you will hear, David's own analysis of the data has revealed some chilling findings that suggest that many schools’ prevention efforts and active shooter plans are, at best, inadequate and ill-informed, and, at worst, making students more vulnerable.
Talking About Kids is a weekly podcast for parents, educators, and direct service providers that explores the latest information on issues impacting children and adolescents, from preventing bullying to unlocking creativity. Hosted by me - R. Bradley Snyder, author of The 5 Simple Truths of Raising Kids - each episode presents a new topic and introduces listeners to authors, academics, and visionaries from around the globe.
David Riedman is the creator of the K-12 School Shooting Database, Chief Data Officer at a global risk management firm, and a tenure-track professor. Listen to my weekly podcast—Back to School Shootings—or my recent interviews on Freakonomics Radio, New England Journal of Medicine, and my article on CNN about AI and school security.
Ep 17. What we are getting dangerously wrong about school shootings