Gunshots. Victims. Living in fear. These mass shootings are out of control. This week, I've hit my breaking point.
School is a safe place; or at least it use to be. But with all the recent shootings, safety is becoming less and less apparent. Students of all ages are going to school everyday, up to five times a week. And whether they are walking into a kindergarten classroom or through a college campus, they're all just as safe unsafe.
This week, there were two separate college shootings within 24 hours. One of them was at Northern Arizona University, a school located in a state I call home. A school my brother currently attends. A school I almost went to. A school my friends go to. And it hit me. No, I didn't know the victims, but I didn't need to. It was the first time I felt that I could have known them, and that broke my heart. I've always felt sick hearing there were more names to add to the list of victims of school shootings; a list that should have never been started. And while these shootings have always made me sad, and disheartened, I've finally moved on to disappointed, and more than that, I'm mad.
I am angry that people are resulting to violence to solve their problems. And that in the end, it doesn't solve anything. It ends up only creating more problems. Families are torn apart, schools are shaken, and communities mourn the losses. I'm mad that future generations won't grow up with the feeling of safety I used to have. And that every once in a while, I'll think about what I would do if a shooter walked into my classroom. What would I do? How would I get out? And what if I didn't? Or someone I loved didn't? I hate that I have to think about this. I hate that I have to live in fear, and not just at school. I have to worry every time I'm at work, out shopping, at the movies, or in any other public setting.
It's time to end the violence. It's time to stop hurting and start healing. Killing isn't the answer; it never has been and never will be. Stop pulling the trigger and start using words. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of hearing about these tragedies. I'm sick of living in fear. I'm sick of having to plan my exit strategy in case of an incident. And I'm sick of the innocent lives being taken too soon.
