As someone who has taught all age groups (from 3 year olds to high schoolers) as well as an average human being, everytime one of these mass school shootings occur I walk around with a heavy heart for a couple days. Thing is, this one hit me differently. This one had my hands shaking and my heart racing all day long. This one made me check my dorm room lock 3 times before I could even think about falling asleep. 17 students and staff went to school one day to never come back home. I’m sure at least one of them thought about skipping that day, maybe woke up late and barely made it on time. We all have gone through those kinds of mornings, but not as many went through what they went through that afternoon. No one should have to go through what they went through.
Scott Beigel, Aaron Fies, and Christopher Hixon. Thank you for protecting your students with your lives. I’m sorry we could not provide you with a safe work environment. I’m sorry our nation’s gun policies could not protect you while you were just doing your job, a job that so many people do not appreciate as much as they should.
Alyssa Alhadeff, Martin Duque Anguiano, Nicholas Dworet, Jamie Guttenberg, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup, and Peter Wang. I am so sorry you did all the right things and still lost your lives. I am sorry our nation’s gun policies allowed a 19 year old that had already been investigated by the FBI purchase a semi-automatic rifle. I am sorry your lives have been so ruthlessly and unnecessarily taken in a place where you should have felt safe.
I should not have had to type that many names.
We should not be almost two months into the year and at mass shooting #46
As both a student and a person who cares about other people, there HAS to be a change. There HAS to be more regulation on who can buy what kind of guns and what qualifications those individuals need to have. I am an 18 year old who has never shot anything besides a nerf gun, so I cannot tell you exactly what guns need to go and how mentally stable you have to be to be a responsible owner. However, I do feel that there is absolutely no reason a civilian should have a semi-automatic rifle. Anything that is made specifically to kill as many people in as little amount of time as possible should not be in the hands of civilians. What on earth would they use it for besides mass murder?
Please, in honor of all that we’ve lost and those brave survivors who will never see the world the same way, stand up against the NRA and the politicians who value their endorsements over the safety of our students that are simply trying to get an education.
How to help:
Funerals are expensive. Losing a child or friend requires time off to grieve. You can donate to the official gofundme for all the families affected here
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs is a group of service dogs trained to help those who are going through immense suffering. This is a free service for the students, but you can help LCC cover travel and other expenses here
(names of victims were found here)