MADISON, WI — As active shooter drills become standard in schools across the U.S., experts are voicing concerns about their potential to harm students’ mental health without clear evidence of their effectiveness.
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The debate over these drills has been reignited following a recent shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where two people were killed.
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Concerns Over Efficacy and Harm
While active shooter drills are intended to prepare students for potential gun violence, Sarah Burd-Sharps, senior research director at Everytown for Gun Safety, highlights the lack of research supporting their value.
“There’s too little research confirming the value of [drills] involving students, but evidence is absolutely mounting on their lasting harms,” Burd-Sharps told media.
A 2017 U.S. Department of Education report revealed that over 95% of U.S. public schools have implemented lockdown training, a number that has surged since the early 2000s. At least 40 states require these drills by law.
Despite their prevalence, there are few standardized guidelines, leading to significant variations in implementation. Some schools conduct simple lockdown education, while others simulate real-life active shooting scenarios with gunfire sounds or staff members acting as shooters, which can traumatize participants.
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Mental Health Impacts
A 2021 study by Burd-Sharps and colleagues, analyzing 114 schools across 33 states, found a 40% increase in anxiety and depression among students in the three months following active shooter drills.
Students with preexisting mental health conditions or personal experiences with gun violence are particularly vulnerable. “When you compound actual shootings that kids see on TV with these drills, it’s not surprising that many American school kids are in crisis,” Burd-Sharps noted.
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Survivor Experiences
Rebekah Schuler, a survivor of the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in Michigan, shared how drills became a retraumatizing experience after the attack that killed four students and injured seven others.
“I hadn’t known the seriousness of it, but after the shooting, they were traumatizing to a different level,” Schuler said, recalling how classmates who transferred to new schools found the drills distressing, with some experiencing panic attacks.
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Advocacy for Safer Practices
Groups like Everytown for Gun Safety and Sandy Hook Promise are calling for stricter guidelines to minimize trauma while ensuring effective preparedness. Recommendations include:
- Announcing drills in advance.
- Allowing students to opt out.
- Avoiding simulated gunfire or hyperrealistic scenarios.
- Regularly reviewing practices to prioritize safety and mental health.
“No fake bullets, fake blood, or janitors dressed as gunmen. That is deeply traumatizing for students and teachers alike,” Burd-Sharps emphasized.
States are beginning to respond. In July, New York banned hyperrealistic simulations, and Kentucky released guidelines discouraging dramatic crisis reenactments.
Unintended Risks
Active shooter drills may inadvertently provide a blueprint for potential attackers. A 2016 NYPD report found that three in four school shooters are current or former students, raising concerns that repeated drills reveal safety protocols to would-be assailants.
Shifting the Focus to Prevention
Experts recommend redirecting efforts toward prevention by training teachers, encouraging parents to secure firearms, and teaching students to report concerning behavior.
“There’s absolutely a better way,” Burd-Sharps concluded.
