Images such as the one above evoke emotions like anger, sadness, and despair. Nobody, especially children should have to run from a threat at school. However for parents and children alike, this is a common occurrence that elicits fear and the terrifying possibility that your child may be one of hundreds to be killed while in school. School shootings aren’t new, and have been occurring for almost as long as schools have been open, but the rate at which gun violence has increased recently is staggering. In 1980, less than 25 school shootings occurred, yet in 2021 roughly 250 occurred. Over this time little has been done to mitigate the issue, and any efforts have proven futile.

While lawmakers argue over the best solution to the issue, the media and citizens alike spew insults at each other which takes away from the real issue. School shootings themselves are almost treated as a pawn by politicians, using the chaos to rally around a central message. Rather than fixing the problem and reducing shootings, their words dance around the real issue and they simply offer empty condolences. In many states, few and even no restrictions are placed on gun ownership. Owning a gun in these states is as common as owning a wallet in others. While nothing is wrong with owning a gun, how they’re purchased and what they’re used for is a different story. Limited restriction on purchasing firearms allows for easy access to a weapon with the ability to end someone’s life. When putting it that way, I can’t believe a state such as Alaska places almost zero limitations on purchasing a gun.

That being said, the gun doesn’t pull the trigger itself. Many individuals with mental health issues will stop at nothing to inflict pain and suffering upon others, more often than not through gun violence. However if you can limit these people’s access to gun then many lives could be saved. In Washington, lawmakers argue whether the guns or mental health issues are the real problem. I say both are, and should be equally addressed. Rather than simply addressing one or the others, politicians should push an agenda that seeks to fix mental health, yet limit weapons access to people that may not be able robe “fixed”. Regardless of your perspective school shootings are a terrible prospect and something every parent fears. A shooting can happen anywhere and at anytime so always be alert and plan out possible escape routes in a crowded area. Through politics and our system of government we have the ability to reduce shootings, but to achieve this we must first take action rather than only offer condolences.