Oregon Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond to Shooting on Jefferson High School Grounds in Portland

The Oregon chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action issued the following statement in response to a shooting yesterday afternoon outside Jefferson High School in Portland, where two students were shot and wounded. According to police reports, shots were fired near the gym and may have been shot “randomly.”

“Students should not have to worry about getting shot at school,” said Cara Chen, a volunteer with the Oregon chapter of Students Demand Action. “Horrific incidents like this highlight the importance of continuing to elect gun sense candidates who prioritize gun violence prevention and vote for common sense gun safety measures like Measure 114, which will be on the ballot in November.” 

This incident comes following a string of gun violence in Portland in recent weeks, including one fatality after a shooting in the parking lot of a Northeast Portland motel. According to Portland Police Statistics, gun violence from January through September has risen 3 percent compared to the same time period in 2021 and 55 percent compared to the same months in 2020, marking the fourth consecutive year where gun violence has increased.  

While there is no one solution to end gun violence, community violence intervention programs play a key role in making cities safer. By utilizing a public health approach, community-led programs have been shown to reduce gun violence in some of the most heavily impacted neighborhoods. Leaders and lawmakers must create community-driven, evidence-informed implementation plans to ensure that resources are efficiently meeting the needs of the neighborhoods they are intended to serve. More information about city gun violence is available here. 

More information on gun violence in Oregon is available here. To speak with a volunteer with Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action, please do not hesitate to reach out.