Attorney General’s plan to combat teen gun violence in PA

HAZELTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Gun violence and its impact on teens is the focus of an effort launched in Pennsylvania.

We have all seen and heard the tragic stories involving gun violence but how are students coping with that violence, and what can be done to help them deal with it?

This is all about hearing from students. What are their concerns? What do they think can be done by school districts to help them cope with gun violence?

“It’s scary and all that in your mind. You don’t know what’s going to go on and all that. It’s just scary,” said 16-year-old student Zander Jones.

Jones is a 10th grader at Wilkes-Barre Area High School.

He says that he and his classmates are aware of gun violence across the nation and state.

“It means, like, I want not to go to school anymore because you don’t know if people could have a gun or something and you won’t know. It’s scary,” Jones added.

The Pennsylvania State Attorney General Michelle Henry wanted to hear from students like Jones about the impact gun violence is having on them.

She recently met with students from high schools across the Commonwealth, including Hazleton, and issued a report called Teen-Talk.

“We heard about concerns, communication, and transparency from authority. We heard about conflict resolution fear of retaliation and impact of negative school stigma,” Henry explained.

Students say they wanted better communication and trust between school officials and students, additional options for mental health services, and funding and resources for social-emotional learning.

Dr. Brian Uplinger, the superintendent of the Hazleton Area School District, says they make every effort to be transparent when it comes to violence involving guns and students. Three students have been killed in gun violence in recent years.

“I will put out information to them but I want to make sure I have all the facts first. If I don’t have all the facts, I’m not going to give them half a story or any rumors I may be hearing,” Dr. Upliner. stated,

Parents tell 28/22 News they would also like to see information released much faster regarding gun violence incidents

They too say the unknown only adds to their concerns for their children.

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