This is Not a Drill, Guns Kill! — By Isabella Barberis

A child cries as he is escorted by a firewoman to their parents 

Teachers lock your doors this is not a drill. I repeat, Teachers lock your doors this is NOT a drill. This message is said over the loudspeaker. The teacher puts down her lesson plan and runs to the door, quickly checking the hallway for stray students or, more importantly, the threat. The door gets locked, the windows get closed, locked, and the shades are now drawn shut.

 

“Kids leave your stuff on your desk and get to the back corner of the class. You two help me barricade the door.” Two of the stronger students help their teacher stack desks and chairs in front of the door but freeze when the shots ring out on the opposite side of the door.

 

There are screams and cries heard from the hall as the students in the classroom huddle closer together, some weeping silently, others saying a prayer or calling their parents telling them they love them and are sorry for stupid little things.

 

This is what they trained for, the teachers and students, and other faculty members. They participated in drills monthly in case of a situation like this, wishing and hoping the day would never come when they thought it would be necessary.

 

More gunshots ring out in the hall, more screams, more tears. Footsteps are heard getting closer and closer to the door. Then, silence; the children stifling their cries afraid to make even the smallest peep. The teacher takes a deep breath prepared to do anything for these kids, making her scared nests to be brave for her kids.

 

Then, banging on the door. The children scream and hold each other, crying silently. The teacher stands in between the door and her students, the fire extinguisher in her hand the only weapon she can use. Some braver students stand behind her holding scissors or a broken skateboard in defense. Everyone in the room hopes they make it out to live another day.

Many mourn the loss of lives at another school shooting

Is this what we want in our schools? Students and teachers living in fear for their life? Children as young as 7 caking themselves in their friend's blood and playing dead to escape a murderer? Friends attending the funerals of their friends gone too soon? Parents mourning the loss of their children due to gun violence?

 

According to Education Week, there have been 135 school shootings since 2018, and this year alone there have been 42 mass shootings at schools. This may not seem like a relatively small number compared to other things but this has been the most shootings recorded since Education Week started recording them. Before 2022, 2021 held the record for the highest number of school shootings in the U.S. On top of that, 80-90% of the world's school shootings happen in the U.S. according to VCUnews.

Children fleeing their school during a shooting.

This act of terrorism is a sad and scary thought that has many people questioning why. Why does this keep happening and what are we doing to prevent it? These are simple questions but with extremely complicated answers. According to a report by the Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based organization, there are about 334 million people in the U.S. and more than 390 million guns, completely overpowering the U.S. population. Due to this number, it would be very difficult to completely ban guns in the states.

 

Many conservatives will argue that their fight to own guns is protected by the 2nd Amendment in the Constitution. This is true, although using them and owning them are two very different things. The 2nd Amendment states that all U.S. citizens have the right to bear arms or keep guns in their houses. With proper permits, they can use them for sport and protection. Without those permits, it is difficult to regulate what the guns are being used for. Background checks are also mandated when applying for a gun permit. Throughout the years there have been many loopholes discovered and it is getting easier and easier for dangerous people to own guns and use them in scary situations.

 

The 2nd Amendment was also written over 200 years ago, and MANY things have changed since then. Back in the 1700s, they did not have automated weapons like today which are far more dangerous than the Founding Fathers ever could have predicted.

 

Guns are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the U.S.

If given the opportunity, many people would be rid of them entirely. Guns are violent weapons that should not be trusted in the hands of average citizens. Others will disagree and say it is their right as Americans to own them. It does not matter which side you are on, but we can all agree that gun violence in schools is terrifying and devastating. Gun violence in schools needs to end if we are to better ourselves as a society.

 

Over the years, gun violence has been blamed on many things: mental health, poor parenting, and influence by others. The truth comes down to gun regulations. It is too easy for people nowadays to get access to dangerous weapons. If stronger regulations were put into place, we could decrease the number of mass shootings and prevent the death of more innocent lives. 

Many protests have taken place to better gun regulations and end school shootings.