As a society whose primary focus is on the safety of children, we stand beside you in shock, in anger, and in grief for the innocent victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and the community of Uvalde, Texas – their lives will be forever changed by this horrific act of violence.

It is unimaginable to us that, despite Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and many other school shootings, very little has been done to decrease gun violence in our country. How many more children’s lives will be lost before we as a country take action?

Several years ago, SPA Past President, Randy Flick MD, MPH, FAAP, authored an open letter deploring gun violence. Today, we again call upon you as physicians who have dedicated your lives to the care of children to raise your voices in support of actions that will advance our understanding and knowledge of the impact of gun violence on children and families and the steps necessary to prevent the atrocious loss of other children in our country.

We stand steadfast in our commitment as a society to both the perioperative care of children and the advancement of science that improves the lives of the children and families about whom we care so deeply. In as much, the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia will be donating $5,000 to Everytown Support Fund. We will also be considering mechanisms for our society to contribute more meaningfully as advocates for the safety of children.

Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Board of Directors