School used to be a safe haven for children.

It was a place of learning. A place of friendship. A place of hope for children with big dreams, and a place of escape for children with an unstable home life.

It was safe. Emphasis on "was."

Now, kindergarteners must go to school and practice shelter-in-place drills instead of practice their ABCs. Third graders must pretend a man with a gun is entering their school once a month instead of pretending to be astronauts on the playground. High school students must halt their education for thirty minutes every month as they sit on the ground in silence, imagining what it would actually be like if this situation was real.

We've all been there as students--wondering what would happen to us all if this shelter-in-place was not a drill. We wonder, we imagine, but eventually, the lights go on, the doors unlock, and class resumes. We think, this could never happen here.

This could never happen here.

Columbine.

Virginia Tech.

Sandy Hook Elementary.

Marshall County High School.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

And many, many more. In fact, since 2013, there have been 291 school shootings--that's nearly one shooting per week. This is absolutely unacceptable.

These students practiced the drills, imagined what could happen, but never believed it would until it did.

I ask you one question, America: who's next? Which child dies next?

Here's the problem with this question: we shouldn't have to ask it.

We shouldn't have to collectively sit together as a society and decide how to protect our children from gunfire as they get on the school bus. Parents shouldn't have to worry about whether they'll be picking their children up from school dead or alive that afternoon. There should be no question or doubt in their minds that when their precious children get on the school bus that day, they will be coming back safe and sound. There should be no question.

Change is necessary. We need to change our gun laws now--there are young lives at stake.

Wake up, America, before another child dies at the hands of our carelessness.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, survivors, and their loved ones at this difficult time. May you find peace, and may we seek change together.