1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

Massachusetts needs a Blue Ribbon Commission on campus safety, with a preliminary report delivered during the fall 2026 semester. Everytown for Gun Safety has documented 186 gunfire incidents on college campuses since 2024 alone. We haven't been hit yet, but that's luck, not preparedness. Campus violence doesn't just cost lives. Survivors and witnesses face lasting trauma, higher rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, and even increased risk of later criminal activity. Current campus police are often retired municipal officers with no specialized training for the unique pressures of college communities — international students, high-tech threats, potential bioterror incidents. Simply adding cameras and locked doors creates a false sense of security, not actual safety. The commission should bring together experts from law enforcement, private security, technology, and mental health to assess best practices and build a real roadmap. The safe evacuation of over 100 people at Temple Israel in Michigan last March shows what layered security, rehearsed protocols, and coordinated multi-agency response can achieve. Massachusetts campuses deserve that same standard of preparation. Please move forward on establishing this commission now.