Child Safety Against Gun Violence Act: What Parents Need to Know

As parents, many of us have a quiet ritual after dropping our children off at school: we wait until they disappear behind the school gate, perhaps hoping for one last glance or wave before walking away.

Then we go on with the rest of our day, believing they'll be home in a few hours: chatty, hungry, sweaty, and eager to tell us about a class activity, a quiz they aced, or something funny that happened at school. That’s because we often see school as a safe place where children learn, dream, make friends, and discover who they are or who they want to become.

But over the past three decades, that sense of security has been repeatedly shaken by acts of gun violence that have unfolded inside classrooms around the world.

In 1999, the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado became one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, claiming 13 lives and forever changing countless families. In 2012, the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre claimed the lives of 20 children between the ages of six and seven, along with six school staff members. A decade later, families around the world watched another tragedy unfold at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were killed plus 17 others were injured.

For years, many Filipino parents watched these tragedies unfold with concern and sympathy. School shootings were always someone else’s story.

Then they became ours.

We told ourselves:

It could never happen here.

Until it did.

The recent shooting inside a high school in Tacloban City shattered the belief that school gun violence is only another country's problem. For many parents, it was a wake-up call that the safety of our children is never something we can take for granted.

It is something we must continuously work to protect.

House Bill No. 10058, also known as the Child Safety Against Gun Violence Act, was recently filed by Rep. Chel Diokno and fellow lawmakers. Although the proposed measure has yet to become law, it has already sparked an important conversation about how we can better protect children, not only through legislation but also through responsible parenting, safer schools, and stronger communities.

The proposal resonated with many parents online.

One parent commented on Diokno’s Instagram post:

“Isang solo parent po, isang kasambahay, malayo anak ko sa akin..parati ako nakakaramdam ng pangamba.”

Another commenter wrote:

“Well trained security guards din po sana within the school premises, not just one, especially for big schools.”

Their comments reflect a growing concern shared by many Filipino families: children deserve to feel safe every time they walk through the school gates.

Diokno summarized the bill’s key provisions in his social media post.

According to Diokno:

“Bawal na bawal humawak ng baril at bala ang menor de edad–kahit kailan, pati sa shooting range.”

Additionally, the bill establishes a presumption of civil liability for irresponsible gun owners who allow minors to access firearms, or “awtomatikong pananagutang sibil kung may masaktan.”

This measure seeks to prevent firearms from being brought onto school grounds.

Under the bill, schools would be required to strengthen security by assigning School Security Officers and conducting annual emergency preparedness drills to anticipate what kids need to do in case of an emergency. Diokno also mentioned the importance of proper monitoring, supervision, and accountability, to ensure that firearm safety rules are actually being followed. He explained:

“At kung may banta na ng karahasan at hindi ito inaksyunan ng paaralan, mananagot ang mga opisyal na nagbabalewala sa mga babala,” he explained.

Diokno emphasized that preventing violence requires addressing its root causes.

“Hindi ito sapat, kailangan din matugunan ang ugat ng karahasan.”

He added:

“Sa ating panukala, palalakasin ang anti-bullying program, dadagdagan ang mga guidance counselor, at magtatatag ng threat assessment team,” he added.

He also stressed the importance of shared responsibility among parents, schools, and communities. Early intervention and close guidance can help identify warning signs before a crisis escalates into violence.

Whether or not your family owns a firearm, this conversation matters. 

Parents childproof electrical outlets, lock medicine cabinets, and buckle children into car seats because we understand one important truth: children cannot always recognize danger before adults do. Firearms deserve the same level of caution and responsibility.

Experts have found that many acts of violence involve warning signs that were overlooked, unsecured firearms that were easily accessible, or children who lacked the emotional support they needed during critical moments. That is why it is important for parents to stay attentive to how today’s children are coping with school, friendships, and social media.

Sandy Hook Promise, a U.S. nonprofit founded by family members and community leaders after the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, identifies warning signs that may indicate a young person is at risk of violence or in need of immediate support.

• Suddenly withdrawing from friends, family, and activities, including online or on social media 

• Bullying behavior, especially whgen directed toward differences in race, religion, gender or sexual orientation 

• Excessive irritability, impatience, or frequent anger 

• Chronic loneliness or social isolation 

• Expressing persistent thoughts of harming themselves or someone else 

• Making direct threats toward a place, another person, or themselves 

• Bragging about access to firearms/guns or other weapons 

• Recruiting accomplices or an audience for an attack 

• Obsession with online violent content, mass shooters, or weapons 

• Cruelty to animals

Conversations about gun violence often focus on the weapon itself, but children's emotional well-being should never be left out of the discussion. A child struggling with bullying, trauma, grief, or overwhelming stress needs access to compassionate adults and appropriate professional support.

As parents, we may not always have the perfect words, but we can create homes where children know they can speak honestly without fear of punishment or shame. Every child deserves trusted adults they can turn to whenever they feel afraid, overwhelmed, or alone.

Teachers should also receive training to recognize the warning signs of emotional distress. Creating a culture where students feel seen, heard, and supported can be just as important as installing another security camera.

And sometimes, prevention begins with a simple question:

"How are you doing?"

The goal is not to make children afraid of school. It's to ensure they can continue seeing school as a place where they discover new books, build lifelong friendships, pursue their dreams, develop their talents, share laughter, and really, simply enjoy being children.

The names Columbine, Sandy Hook, Uvalde, and San Jose National High School remind us that tragedy can reshape communities in an instant. They also remind us that every conversation about child safety, every responsible decision made at home, every improvement in our schools, and every thoughtful policy considered by lawmakers has the potential to save lives.

Legislation is only one piece of the solution. Creating safer schools also requires responsible gun ownership, strong families, supportive educators, accessible mental health services, and communities willing to look out for one another.

Every child deserves to leave for school in the morning and come home safely at the end of the day. As parents, that’s the future we all hope for—and one we should never stop working to protect.

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