Before I came to America, I knew the country was infamous for school shootings, but I never imagined hearing about one soon after my arrival. Just eleven days after I arrived, on Sept. 4, a shooter at Apalachee High School in Georgia claimed the lives of two students and two teachers, and injured nine others. The shooter was a 14-year-old kid who had access to a gun.
Just days later, another shooting occurred shockingly close to home — only 30 miles down the road from Fremont, at Northwest High School in Omaha. This time, a 14-year-old used a gun given to him by his father.
Hearing this news was both disturbing and frightening, and it left me wondering how such tragedies could keep happening. At the time of the shooting at Northwest High School, I discovered that there were at least 50 school shootings according to CNN. I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way, as the statistics are troubling.
Blown away by the statistics, I couldn’t stop thinking about the tragedies caused by gun violence in schools. Out of curiosity, I decided to look up the data again now that a couple of months have passed.
CNN reports that there have been at least 76 school shootings as of Nov. 11, 2024. These incidents include both shootings on college campuses and K-12 school grounds, with 52 of them occurring in primary and secondary schools. The incidents left 36 people dead and at least 103 other victims injured. This alarming trend raises critical questions about why American schools have become unsafe environments for students.
The Council on Foreign Relations claims that “Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and young adults in the United States” because assault weapons and ammunition are readily available. The trend of gun-related deaths continues to increase. In fact, “guns killed more than forty-five thousand Americans,” which is the highest toll in decades.
One major factor in this crisis is the easy access to firearms. The U.S. has some of the most lenient gun laws in the world, allowing dangerous weapons to be easily obtained, even by children. Firearms are not toys; they are deadly weapons that should never be placed in the hands of minors. Protecting the safety of kids in school should take precedence over personal freedoms.
In many countries, including my own, obtaining a gun license is subject to strict regulations designed to ensure public safety. These typically include extensive background checks to screen for criminal history and potential threats, mandatory safety training to ensure responsible firearm use, and mental health evaluations to prevent gun ownership by individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others. These countries have seen lower rates of gun violence, demonstrating that stricter gun laws can save lives.
The lack of such measures in America contributes significantly to these horrific events of school shootings. Because the government has not created laws to keep guns out of the hands of minors and those with mental health issues, many schools have responded by implementing enhanced security measures. Lockdown drills and metal detectors are now standard in school environments across the nation, with at least 10% of high schools using metal detectors.
While these steps aim to protect students, they also shift the focus from learning to merely surviving. This situation not only puts students’ safety at risk but also distracts from their ability to focus on learning, subverting the core purpose of education. The constant threat of violence undermines students’ sense of security, making it difficult for them to concentrate on their education. The psychological pressure on students, teachers and parents is incalculable, as schools become environments of fear rather than places of growth and development.
I hope that one day, America will build a future where schools are safe again — a future where children no longer fear going to school and can focus on learning, not surviving.
