With today's school shooting outside of Portland, Oregon, there have been 74 school shootings since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. 74. Vox offers a map of the shootings based on data from Everytown for Gun Safety. We need to unite for safety.
As a human, American, woman, mother, wife, former student, I'm stunned that we live in this world. I shouldn't be, right? I remember watching the news reports from the Columbine high school, Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, as well as others. I watched Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine and We Need to Talk about Kevin starring Tilda Swinton, neither of which I could ever forget. This violence is a uniquely American phenomenon.
It is clear that guns kill people. Maybe I've lived too urban of a life to understand the interest or need that some people have for hunting guns, but it is clear that guns do not belong in schools. Schools are a place of learning for children who expect and require to be kept safe by adults.
We don't need religion or politics to highlight a wrong like this. Freedom is not living in fear of random and quick violence.
Find an organization you believe in, like Everytown for Gun Safety, and donate or participate in their actions to help change laws to keep our children and educators safe.
Learn to stay safe and teach your friends, family and children the same, regardless of where you live in this country. This wikiHow page encourages running, hiding and protecting yourself. The American Psychology Association gives advice as to how to talk to your children about school shootings.
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