My community college emailed all the students this video along with a link to sign up text updates in case of inclement weather, something about “crime awareness and prevention,” and a note about a substance abuse program they (are required to) offer.
I understand why the school shared the video, hell, maybe it was mandated by the state. I didn't have to, but I watched it because I wanted to know what they (whoever) thought students should know. Sadly, the information was nothing new. I’ve been hearing these “tips” since kindergarten. “Get out. Hide. Fight.” Now, I'm a high school senior and I don’t have any arguments left. I’m tired of explaining why people’s lives matter, why we should protect children over guns (that guns aren't “in danger” to begin with), why I’m crying. This isn’t begin with the boogie monster. This is real. I know school shootings aren’t as common as other killers, but they shouldn’t be happening at all. Children die from illnesses every day, it’s inevitable. Doctors never stop trying to find cures. But, kids dying from getting shot by a white supremacist in math class is not inevitable. And yet, they are people fighting the cure. Fighting thorough, logical, and plausible solutions. It feels like, each time it happens, instead of trying to stop it from happening again, there are people at every level of the U.S. government who are making it even easier to achieve. F*ck the NRA. “There have been more mass shootings than days this year,” as a CBS article (9/1/19) by Jason Silverstein details: “As of September 1, which was the 244th day of the year, there have been 283 mass shootings in the U.S., according to data from the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive (GVA), which tracks every mass shooting in the country. The GVA defines a mass shooting as any incident in which at least four people were shot, excluding the shooter.” I have so much feeling, but no words. I thought that when I got to community college, I wouldn’t worry about a shooting happening. Except, of course I do because, really, nothing's changed. Except, now, I couldn’t even run. I've heard people worry about the trauma school shootings have on survivors, but not so much about kids who have never lived through one experience, but go to school feeling like it's only a matter of time. Learning to fight for their life is not what kids should have to focus on in school or anywhere. It only takes one drill to make you check the door every five minutes until you graduate. It only takes one scare for you to run through your list of defense tactics automatically as you walk into school, trying to remember what will make you most likely to survive. More News and Information on Gun Control
1 Comment
Suzy
9/23/2019 12:09:38 pm
I have no words, and I'm supposed to be the grownup here. It is overwhelming, and I absolutely hate that you and all the other young people are so overwhelmed.
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