"Bang bang go the coffin nails
Like a breath exhaled, then gone forever
It seems like just yesterday
How did I miss the red flags raised?
Think back to the days we laughed
We braved these bitter storms together
Brought to his knees he cried
But on his feet he died
What God would damn a heart?
And what God drove us apart?
What God could?
[Chorus]
Make it stop, let this end
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge
It's come to this, a weightless step
On the way down singing
Woah, woah
[Verse 2]
Bang bang from the closet walls
The schoolhouse halls, the shotgun's loaded
Push me and I'll push back
I'm done asking, I demand
From the nation under God
I feel its love like a cattle prod
Born free but still, they hate
Born me, no I can't change
It's always darkest just before the dawn
So stay awake with me, let's prove them wrong
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
The cold river washed him away
But how could we forget?
The gatherings hold candles, but not their tongues
And too much blood has flown from the wrists
Of the children shamed for those they chose to kiss
Who will rise to stop the blood?
We're calling for, insisting on
A different beat, yeah
A brand new song
[Bridge]
Tyler Clementi, age 18
Billy Lucas, age 15
Harrison Chase Brown, age 15
Cody J. Barker, age 17
Seth Walsh, age 13
[Chorus]
Make it stop, let this end
This life chose me, I’m not lost in sin
But proud I stand of who I am
I plan to go on living
Make it stop, let this end
All these years pushed to the ledge
But proud I stand of who I am
I plan to go on living"

These lyrics belong to the song "Make It Stop" by Rise Against. They focus on bullying and those specific situations that occur in daily life. It brings light to suicide and the fact that there are people around us suffering more than we know. There are signs and red flags that people miss because they don’t know what to look for. It questions a belief in god and the LGBT community. It speaks the names of a few of the many who took their own lives because of the way they were treated about their homosexuality. This is happening every day and yet as the song says, we must keep going, it gets better, “I plan to go on living”.

Since 2018 began a little over three months ago, there have been 55 mass shootings. We still have nine months to go. In 2017, there were 427 mass shootings in the US. 427 people who thought it was okay to take someone else's life. There needs to be a change. In 2014, there were 18.2 suicides per 100,000 people between the ages of 15-24. are killing themselves, people are killing others and we are just sitting here watching. I’m here to say that #prayersforwhoever aren't going to stop anything. There will be more death if nothing changes. We need to be the change we want to see in the world. Stricter gun laws, stricter watching for bullies. It’s not “part of the high school experience”. I refuse to believe “boys will be boys”.

Last week there was a boy who decided to threaten to shoot up my high school. 87% of the 2000 person school did not attend. The fear engraved into teens minds is not okay. No one should be afraid to get an education for fear of not getting home after school. Similarly, no one should be afraid to walk the halls of their schools and get punched or threatened or mentally abused because of who they are. No one should be afraid to walk the halls or the streets or anything. Scream it louder for the people in the back because there needs to be a change.

I will not bow my head and send my prayers. I will step up and help my fellow person. I will respect the hell out of everyone no matter who they choose to love or who they choose to be. I will not forget the names of those who have taken their lives or who have died at the hand of others.