We all think it will never happen to us. We prep for it, run drills for it and think about more than we would like to admit it. We’ve convinced ourselves that, even though mass shootings happen regularly, they will never happen to us or our families. The people in Las Vegas, Newtown, Aurora, and San Bernardino didn’t think it would happen to them either. Our minds force us to believe that our town is safe. It’s too small, it’ll never happen here. I have caught myself thinking "I'm safe, it won't happen here." Then I remember. It did happen here. Binghamton is already part of the statistics. My small town in Upstate New York, my home, was ravaged by the senseless violence regularly seen in America today.

I remember April 3, 2009, vividly. I was at St. James Middle School. It was a regular day for the 20 or so 7th graders in my class. I was standing in the hallway across from the lockers waiting to go into Ms. Barnes’ room for religion. I remember the friends I was standing with when I heard that there was a shooting at the American Civic Association. I didn’t really know what it was but I knew it was only a mile or two down the road. I knew it was next to Binghamton High School and that people I knew and loved were right nearby. In my head, we were all in danger. Of course, the middle school rumor mill did not help this fear. We heard everything from his intended targets to where he was headed next. None of these were true but try telling a group of terrified 13-year-olds that. We couldn’t focus at all that day. It was a sunny day but we stayed inside for recess. The normal chatter of who liked who became where was the shooter now and did the police catch him yet. I remember getting home that day and watching the local news for hours. I saw ambulances, cop cars, SWAT teams and fire trucks crowded outside this little building. I watched Vice President Joe Biden address the situation on national television. I heard story after story of my friends at Binghamton High School who were locked down for hours on end. My worst memory was getting a text message asking for prayers because an acquaintance of ours had lost a family member. The confusion and pain was something that, at 13 years old, I had never experienced before. I could only imagine how traumatic and devastating it was for the people involved and their family members. I was a teenage spectator who had no personal ties to the tragedy and I was heartbroken. I couldn’t fathom how the people closely affected by this must have felt. I remember praying for the 13 victims and their families and asking God that this would never happen again.

If you drive in downtown Binghamton, you will see a broken column surrounded by plaques and 13 illuminated glass birds in various stages of flight. This beautiful tribute to the victims stands as a solemn reminder of what happened that day and allowes us to remember those who lost their lives. Every time a mass shooting occurs, I go back to April 3, 2009. I remember how distraught and upset I was. I can’t imagine how the families who lost loved ones on that day must feel when they see this happening over and over again. This tragedy occurred almost 9 years ago and nothing has changed. Mass shootings happen nearly every day. Congress has an obligation to act. We need to open a dialogue and have a discussion. This is not a pleasant or easy topic, but it is one that needs to be talked about. The United States is the only country where it happens on a regular basis. We are the exception to the rule. We need a solution. We need stronger gun control and better background checks. We need better mental health care and more restrictions on the mentally ill getting firearms. We need to better regulate the sale and registration of guns. We need to change the law and force Congress to act in order to prevent these tragedies from happening again.

To get involved, check out:

https://everytown.org/

Contact your representatives:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/

https://www.house.gov/representatives/

Find out who your representatives are:

https://whoismyrepresentative.com/