School counselors overwhelmingly oppose efforts to arm educators as a response to gun violence in schools, according to new NACAC survey data.

Nearly three-quarters of 2,251 counselors surveyed by the association in May and June reported being either “somewhat opposed” or “strongly opposed” to policies that seek to arm teachers and other school staff.

The data — gleaned from NACAC’s annual Counseling Trends Survey — was released Monday.

“A school counselor’s role is to support the educational process, providing vital services to students ranging from academic and college planning to social/emotional counseling,” NACAC CEO Joyce Smith said in a press release. “School counselors made it clear that their job is not to serve as an armed police force in the school. Adding the responsibility of firearms possession and use to their workload is simply a dangerous step too far.”

This spring marked the first time respondents to NACAC’s Counseling Trends Survey were asked about topics related to gun violence in schools.

View the full press release and read about the survey’s other key findings.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.