Uvalde School Shooting Exposes Law Enforcement's Failure to Follow Active Shooter Protocol

Despite active shooter training, officers hesitated and failed to confront the shooter, leading to the death of 19 children and two teachers.

During a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas in May 2022, students followed active shooter protocol while law enforcement officers did not, leading to 19 children and two teachers being killed.
Law enforcement officers waited for instructions, keys, and specialized equipment instead of confronting the shooter, despite their training instructing them to do so if there is reason to believe someone is hurt.
Officers failed to set up a clear command structure and spread incorrect information, treating the shooter as a barricaded suspect and not an active threat even as children and teachers called 911 pleading for help.
Mass shootings have become a fact of American life, with at least 120 since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, yet few laws exist requiring training for law enforcement to handle such situations.
Only Texas and Michigan have laws requiring training for all officers after they graduate from police academies, leading to an uneven and inconsistent approach to handling mass shootings.