On December 10, 2015 at 11:35 am, Arkansas State University in Jonesboro Arkansas was put into lockdown after a man drove onto campus carrying a shotgun, a tank of gasoline and a large propane tank in the bed of his truck. The suspect reportedly pointed the shotgun at himself, and poured gasoline on his truck and threatened to blow it up. The suspect was immediately surrounded by police and was taken into custody without any lives being lost or any injuries occurring. It's a blessing that the state of Arkansas didn't have to mourn the loss of any students tonight.

This situation could have gone much differently, as it has before. I've read about school shootings, and have always thought I would be safe from situations like the one that happened at Arkansas State, until today. Arkansas State is about five hours east of the University of Arkansas, and the fact that there was a possible campus shooting that close to home, terrifies me. What if that shooter had chosen my school rather than the one he chose today? What if he had actually opened fire while on campus? Personally, I don't think America can or should have to handle another school shooting.

In the past 13 years, 486 people have been killed in mass shootings from the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting that killed 26, to Virginia Tech where 32 were killed. Politicians argue over gun control and how to put an end to gun violence yet in the past five years gun violence hasn't gotten any better, it's gotten worse. Everyday the gun violence gets closer and closer to home.

I think it's sad that while freshmen are moving into their dorms they have to learn about what to do if there were an active shooter on campus, but watch the news about the shootings that happen and they start to wonder if they really are safe. Campuses assign more and more police to patrol the campus, but how much good can they do when anyone could be a threat. You truly never know who could end your life in one second.

I pray that there comes a time when the world doesn't see any more gun violence, no more suffering and no more loss at the hands of a gun. Every student should be able to go to school and walk to class without having to worry about someone taking their life.