Okay, so get this: As of September 2024, there have been, like, over 500 mass shootings in the USA this year. I know, right? It’s totally insane! Mass shootings are, like, when four or more people get shot or killed, and a bunch of these have happened at schools. So, like, no wonder everyone’s totally freaked out.
And, like, in the last decade, there have been over 200 school shootings! And in 2023 alone, there were more than 40 by December—seriously, one of the deadliest years ever. The Center for Disease and Control (CDC)—which is, like, super legit—says that guns are now the number one cause of death for kids and teens in the U.S., which is so heartbreaking. In 2022, there were over 3,000 firearm deaths for people aged 0-19. Like, can you believe that?
Recent Drama: The Nation is, Like, in Mourning
So, one of the most recent and, like, totally shocking incidents happened on September 4, 2024 at Apalachee High School in Winder, Barrow County, Georgia. A student, like, opened fire at a high school, and it was so horrible—two students and two adults were killed, and nine injured. A 14-year-old boy will be charged with murder. Like how does a 14-year-old get hold of a gun?! The police caught the shooter, but it was just, like, the worst way to start the school year.
And, like, back in June 2024, there was another tragic event in Richmond, Virginia. A student got shot and killed at a high school graduation ceremony. Like, seriously, what was supposed to be a celebration turned into a total nightmare.
Oh, and just days before the Georgia thing, on September 1, 2024, there was this whole drama at a high school in Greensboro, North Carolina. A teacher got shot and killed by a student—like, can you even imagine? The school went into lockdown, and there were, like, police everywhere. It’s just so sad. Like, whole communities are totally shaken.
The Expert Tea: What Needs to Happen
So, like, experts are saying we need to do a bunch of stuff to, like, stop these tragedies. Dr. David Hemenway, who’s, like, a professor at Harvard (fancy, right?), says we need to figure out what’s causing all this violence. He’s, like, “We need to look at the factors that contribute to these tragedies, including access to firearms, mental health issues, and the culture of violence that pervades certain communities.” Like, duh!
And then there are these school safety experts who are, like, we need to be more proactive, you know? Kenneth Trump (no relation to that Trump, BTW), who’s, like, a big deal in school safety, says, “We can’t just focus on the aftermath of these events; we need to be proactive in identifying and addressing the warning signs before they escalate into violence.” Like, we need to get ahead of this, people!
But, like, the whole gun control debate is super messy. Some people are, like, “We need stricter gun laws!” and others are, like, “But, the Second Amendment!” It’s, like, never-ending drama. People who want stricter laws point to places like Australia, where they, like, totally reduced gun violence. But then, there are people who think that restricting guns is, like, a major violation of their rights. So, like, what are we supposed to do?
The Totally Major Impact
So, these shootings are, like, not just about the people who get hurt. Survivors are dealing with, like, so much trauma—think PTSD, depression, anxiety, the whole shebang. And parents and teachers are, like, constantly on edge, waiting for the next scary headline. It’s, like, a total nightmare.
And, like, it’s not just emotional—the financial costs are, like, major. The RAND Corporation says that each school shooting costs, like, $3.1 million on average. And that’s just for the immediate stuff, like emergency response, medical care, and legal things. The long-term costs, like trauma care and helping communities recover? Yeah, those are, like, way more.
What’s Next: Like, We Need to Do Something!
Like, c’mon USA — get your act together! It’s, like, a major embarrassment to your country!
As these shootings keep happening, like, way too often, people are saying we need to do something ASAP. Some are calling for, like, major gun reform, more funding for mental health services, and, like, school safety programs that actually work.
It’s gonna be a tough road but something needs to be done, obvs. President Joe Biden even said, “We owe it to our children to create a safe environment where they can learn and grow without fear. This is not a political issue; it is a moral imperative.” Like, preach, Joe!
So, the future of our schools is, like, totally in our hands. If we don’t figure this out, we’re just gonna keep seeing these awful headlines, and, like, nobody wants that.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
