State Superintendent Reykdal Asks Public to Not Keep Guns at Home After Mass School Shooting

Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is asking residents to avoid keeping guns at home after Tuesday's mass killing at a Texas elementary school.

Reykdal released a statement, saying there's overwhelming data showing gun owners and families are more likely to die by their own gun than to use them in self-defense or protection.

He did not offer any sourcing of the data he referenced, but went on to say that a high concentration of guns is connected to high rates of homicides.

Reydal's statement asked the public to join him in not keeping a gun at home.

"As a father, community member, and our state’s schools chief, I am making a personal appeal to you today to please reconsider gun possession in your home if you are a gun owner today," said Reydal.

He also said Washington has taken major steps to keep kids safe at school.

As of early Wednesday morning, 19 school children and two adultd were dead from the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.