By: Isaiah Ruiz
MONTANA – This week marks National Youth Violence Prevention Week, prompting reflection on past incidents in Montana and the pursuit of safer schools for children.
One approach gaining traction is the use of modern technology to enhance safety measures. Mark43, a safety software company, is providing tools aimed at improving response and prevention efforts in Montana schools.
Ganesha Martin, Vice President of Public Policy at Mark43, shared insights into the situation. “It is when an officer hears a call for service, that is accurate and tells them what to expect when they get there,” she said. “It is the officer is able to better de-escalate and show up, for, that.”
Martin highlighted that approximately nine percent of young people in Montana have faced weapon-related threats or harm, emphasizing the need for effective intervention strategies.
Discussing the future, Martin expressed hope for change driven by the current generation. “Your life experience or lived experience drives you,” she said. “We’re just kind of have a whole generation of young people who have lived through this, who, don’t see, you know, guns the same way that older generations do. And I think they’re going to be highly motivated, to do something about it.”
Martin also pointed out that the firsthand experiences of today’s youth, including active shooter drills, may empower them to enact future change. These experiences, she suggested, could lead to efforts that protect schools and ensure the safety of upcoming generations.
