Women For Gun Rights Missouri recently hosted a free School Safety Summit at the Hatch Auditorium at The Library Center in Springfield. The event brought together parents, educators, school officials, law enforcement officers and concerned citizens—some traveling from as far as four hours away—for a full day of education on active-shooter response and school safety.
National school safety expert Ed Monk led presentations focused on lessons learned from past attacks, the importance of response time and practical steps schools can take to reduce the loss of life. Monk is an Army veteran, former sheriff's deputy and former high school teacher who has spent nearly two decades studying active-shooter incidents and training schools and law enforcement agencies across the country.
During the summit, Monk emphasized that even a rapid police response can take several minutes, making preparation and immediate action critical during the earliest moments of an attack.
The program included two school-focused presentations and a specialized session addressing critical lessons for law enforcement. Roger Moore of Peacekeepers Training also provided information about Missouri's School Protection Officer Program and recent legislative improvements that expanded its use.
Women For Gun Rights Missouri strongly supports the School Protection Officer Program as an additional option for districts seeking to strengthen campus security and better protect students and staff.
"Women for Gun Rights-MO was thrilled when the School Protection Officer program was expanded. Then we quickly realized it wouldn't do any good if parents and schools weren't aware. That's when the idea for the School Safety Summit was born," said Missouri State Director Susan Myers.
"Protecting our children requires more than good intentions—it requires honest conversations, sound information and effective preparation," said Dianna Muller, founder of Women For Gun Rights. "We are proud of Susan Myers for spearheading this important effort and bringing the School Safety Summit to life. This event gave parents, educators and law enforcement practical knowledge they can use to advocate for stronger safety policies in their own schools. Women For Gun Rights is proud to help bring these conversations to communities across the country."
The Springfield summit reflects Women For Gun Rights' commitment to providing communities with practical, research-based education and encouraging informed conversations about policies that can improve school safety.
Local news station KY3 covered the event and interviewed Monk about the importance of acting quickly during an active-shooter attack.
About Women For Gun Rights: Women For Gun Rights is a nationwide organization dedicated to educating, empowering and mobilizing women to protect the Second Amendment. Through advocacy, education and community engagement, the organization promotes practical, constitutional solutions that protect individual rights while strengthening the safety of families and communities.
