Threats of Gun Violence at School

Three Things Thursday

Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week. This morning I sat down to finish a post about the lack of attention that is given to prevention during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I had just put my fingers on the keyboard when I received this text from my daughter, who is a sophomore in high school.

This text derailed my day.

And my writing.

And my teaching.

The breast cancer post will have to wait (stay tuned until Monday).

Once again, we need to turn our attention to gun violence.¹

Gun violence is an epidemic in America.

The number of children and teens killed by gunfire in the United States increased by 50% between 2019 and 2021. Guns are the leading cause of death among American children and teens.

Source: Sandy Hook Promise

According to CNN, “There have been at least 58 school shootings in the United States so far this year, as of October 3, 2023. Nineteen of those were on college campuses and the remaining 39 were on K-12 school grounds.” Twenty-eight individuals (students/teachers) have died and more than 67 have been injured. Additionally, most American teens say they are very or somewhat worried about the possibility of a shooting happening at their school – and most parents of teens share that concern.

We are living in fear of an epidemic of gun violence that can be prevented.

Research shows — the rate of mass shootings is consistently much higher for places with fewer restrictions on guns. And nearly half of all parents with a weapon in the home wrongly believe their children don’t know where a gun is stored.

Gun Safety Legislation is NEEDED.

As we think about the elections next month, we need to vote for candidates who are supportive of gun safety legislation.

Gun safety legislation is NOT about taking away 2nd amendment rights. It is about teachers and students. And worried parents. It is about safe classrooms. And putting an end to active shooter drills. Gun safety legislation will allow teachers to focus entirely on their students, their education, and the classroom experience; gun safety legislation will allow my kids and yours to go to school without fear; gun safety legislation will end text messages like the one I received this morning.

Rethinking who is allowed to buy a gun, how guns are stored, and what education we require of gun owners — will take the burden of protecting our schools off of the administrators, teachers, and students. And the burden will be placed on those who manufacture, sell, and own a gun.

Speaking as a mother — today was hard. The flurry of texts throughout the morning was scary. And I have no idea how to parent my child through such horror. I tried to listen to her, asked her to stay in touch, and offered support (unquestioned and timely). We’ve had time this evening to debrief and talk through the events of the day. I’m trying not to push too hard, but I also want to know what is going on (both at school and in her mind and heart).

Here are the three things I learned today while walking my kid through a credible gun violence threat at her school —

1. Parenting through a gun violence epidemic is uncharted territory. There is no guidebook. As parents, we need friends who can walk with us during these scary times. Friends who will listen, support, and help us to find our way in the midst of the fear, horror, and potential/actual acts of violence.

2. We can no longer be immune to gun violence. We can no longer just accept that the threat of gun violence is a reality for our kids and their schools. We MUST speak up — we need to vote in support of gun safety legislation, we need to join groups that support gun safety legislation, we need to support those groups financially, and we need to speak up — with our neighbors, at school board meetings, wherever we can make our voice heard. This is no time to be silent. The next school shooting (and yes, there will be one) could take place anywhere. The epidemic of gun violence is preventable. We need to work towards prevention.

3. The threat of violence and the fear of a mass shooting is dangerous. Stress has physical effects on the body and only time will tell what the long-term effects of stress are caused by threats of violence — we KNOW there will be long-term effects, but what they are is not known with certainty. The health effects of fear and stress caused by gun violence will be felt by Gen Z, which has been officially named The School Shooting Generation.²

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing templates for letters to the editor, letters to our state and federal representatives, and social media posts that support gun safety legislation. We all need to use our voices and advocate for change.

Today was hard.

It could have been so much harder.

Tonight I am going to hug my kids a little tighter and a little longer.

Tomorrow I will start working toward change.

Please join me…

1. Rest assured that posts about gun violence will continue until real change occurs and my kids can go to school without the threat of gun violence.

2. A fitting name for the group of students who have had to listen to or read stories about the 300-plus school shootings that have occurred since 1997.