“Gun-free” Criminal Safety Zones
A Magnet for Mass Shooters
Anti-gun politicians and the corporate media love to brag about “gun-free zones” as if a cardboard sign on a school door will stop a determined killer. But the facts are undeniable: so-called “gun-free” zones don’t stop crime — they invite it.
Since 1950, 94% of mass public shootings have occurred in gun-free zones. These are not safety zones; they are criminal safety zones.
Soft Targets: Why Killers Choose Gun-Free Zones
Mass murderers aren’t stupid. They plan. They choose targets where they can inflict maximum damage with minimum resistance. So the only thing “gun-free” zones accomplish is stripping law-abiding citizens of their most effective means of self-defense. A mother walking her child into school, a student in a classroom, or a parishioner in church is forced to be defenseless — while killers face no such restriction.
The Virginia Tech shooter in 2007 murdered 32 people inside a campus where lawful concealed carry was banned.
In 2015, the Umpqua Community College killer murdered 9 people on another campus “gun-free” zone.
James Holmes, the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooter, had seven theaters within a 20-minute drive. He chose the only theater that banned concealed carry.
When politicians declare a “gun-free” zone, they might as well hang a neon sign that says: “Criminals welcome. Victims inside.”
These killers chose soft targets for a reason: they knew nobody could shoot back.
Delayed Response from Law Enforcement
Supporters of “gun-free” zones argue that police will save the day. But the truth is chilling: the average police response time to active shooters is 3–11 minutes.
In Uvalde, Texas, it took 77 minutes before law enforcement intervened.
When seconds mean the difference between life and death, law-abiding citizens cannot afford to wait. Armed citizens are often the first and only line of defense.
False Sense of Security
Proponents of “gun-free” zones insist they make us safer. But criminals, by definition, do not obey laws or signs. A shooter intent on mayhem doesn’t care what’s posted at the door.
What “gun-free” zones actually do is give people a false sense of security. They condition students, parents, and workers to believe they’re safe — while in reality, they are sitting ducks. This false sense of security leads to complacency and lack of preparedness.
A Better Way Forward
The alternative to “gun-free” zones is not complicated: trust responsible Americans to defend themselves.
Encourage responsible firearm ownership and training.
Expand lawful concealed carry so killers face the risk of armed resistance.
Invest in mental health resources and intervention programs that address the root causes of violence, not punish law-abiding gun owners.
Studies consistently show that defensive gun uses occur between 500,000 and 3 million times per year.
The evidence is overwhelming: when good people are armed, lives are saved.
Abolish Victim Zones
The track record of “gun-free” zones is written in blood. From Columbine to Uvalde, they have one thing in common: the victims were disarmed by law.
It’s time to end this deadly charade. Disarming law-abiding citizens, creating soft targets, and advertising helplessness to killers is not public safety — it’s government-mandated victimhood.
Texas Gun Rights will never compromise in this fight. We will continue to demand the end of so-called “gun-free” zones and restore the right of self-defense everywhere.
👉 Join Texas Gun Rights today. Together, we can abolish “gun-free” criminal safety zones and defend the Second Amendment without compromise — because your right to life is worth defending.