Increased Beverly Police Presence At Schools After Texas Shooting

Beverly MA

25 May, 2022

10:20 AM

Description

BEVERLY, MA — There was an increased police presence and counseling offered at Beverly Public Schools Wednesday in response to the latest school shooting in America that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers in Texas Tuesday afternoon. Beverly Superintendent Sue Charochak told Patch Wednesday morning that staff and administrators were enforcing established security measures across the district and the increased police presence was intended to "reassure the community of our partnership and commitment to providing a safe school environment." "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and community of Uvalde as they try to make sense of this tragic violent event," Charochak said. "As I am sure is the case in all schools across the country, our administrators and staff are continuing with their vigilance in enforcing our security measures that have been well established at each building. "We are providing any needed counseling or support to families and students who may be experiencing increased emotional distress." U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) said the killings were the latest indication that "what is clear is that it is too easy for the wrong people to get guns and commit murder. We have to stop this. "There is much more we can do. And we must." He added on Wednesday morning that those actions include red flag laws that prevent potentially troubled individuals from obtaining guns, stronger background checks and raising the purchase age for firearms to 21 years old nationwide. "Those are just the easy ones the public overwhelmingly supports," Moulton said. "We must do more." (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)