Issue:

We are all horrified by the recent rash of school shootings. The sight of grief stricken parents and communities is once again a regular part of the national headlines. It is more than many of us, as parents, students and concerned citizens can stand. But what makes many of these unspeakable tragedies even worse is that they don't have to happen. In four out of five school shootings the attackers tell other students about their plans, in many other instances the guns that are used are taken from parents or other homes where they were left unlocked or loaded.

Belief:

Most school shootings are preventable. SPEAK UP is a national awareness and educational initiative providing students with tools to improve the safety of their schools and communities. Based on the fact that in 81% of school shootings the attackers tell other students about their plans beforehand, the SPEAK UP program empowers students to report threats of weapon-related violence. SPEAK UP features the first-ever, national toll-free hotline for students to report threats of violence at school - 1-866-SPEAK-UP.