Sandy Hook survivor Grace Fischer has criticised JD Vance’s proposal that schools should improve their door locks as a way to address school shootings. Fischer, who was just six years old when she survived the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012, has strongly denounced Vance’s idea, labelling it as “unacceptable.”
In an interview with ABC News, the now 18-year-old activist expressed her disapproval of Vance’s suggestion, stating that schools should inherently be safe spaces for children and that simply enhancing door and window security is not a comprehensive solution. Fischer emphasised the need for stricter gun control measures instead.
During a recent debate against Tim Walz, Vance advocated for bolstering security in schools by reinforcing doors and windows to combat gun violence. His comments received backlash, with Fischer dismissing his proposal as unrealistic and asserting that creating a heavily fortified school environment akin to a prison is not the answer to ensuring student safety.
Vance had previously remarked that school shootings were “a fact of life” following a tragic incident at Apalachee High School in Georgia. His stance on increasing school security measures has been met with criticism, including from the Harris campaign, which rejected the notion that school shootings should be accepted as inevitable.
Having lost 26 friends and teachers in the Sandy Hook tragedy, Fischer, now eligible to vote for the first time in a presidential election, hopes to use her voice for change. She has been an advocate for gun control for years, meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to discuss solutions.
Fischer stressed the importance of leveraging voting power to push for legislative changes, emphasising the urgency of addressing gun violence to prevent further tragedies. She is determined to make a difference and ensure that the government takes meaningful action to protect children in schools.
As the debate around school safety and gun control continues to unfold, voices like Grace Fischer’s provide a stark reminder of the impact of gun violence and the pressing need for effective measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.