'Sick of holding my breath': Parents nationwide wrestle with fear of school shootings
Category: News & Politics
Via: krishna • one month ago • 67 commentsBy: Zachary Schermele, Kayla Jimenez, N'dea Yancey-Bragg
Related:
1. In the wake of the killing in Uvalde, here’s what America can learn from Australia’s response to tragedy.
2. Four killed in shooting at Georgia high school, suspect is in custody
3. School shootings continue to plague campuses
4. How this shooting unfolded: See the complete timeline of events
5. Georgia high school shooting: What we know about the 4 victims
6. Colt Gray, 14, identified as suspect in Apalachee High School shooting: What we know
Photo: ABC News
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A day after a mass shooting at a Georgia high school, a wave of familiar dread set in for parents across the country as they prepared for another school day.
A Florida mom texted her 15-year-old “I love you” Thursday morning after he and his younger brother rode off on bikes to school. A mom in Georgia emailed her fourth-grader’s principal because she knew it would make her feel better. In South Carolina, a 12-year-old broke into tears after her mother, a gun control advocate, told her about the two students and two teachers who'd been fatally shot at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
Their experiences in 24 hours, from coast to coast, capture some of the harsh realities of parenting in the United States as school shootings continue to plague campuses where families entrust their most vulnerable loved ones. Each time a new tragedy grips the country, parents contend with a renewed sense of foreboding about sending their children into school environments many feel can’t guarantee their safety. How to cope with those feelings – of anxiety, fear and helplessness – is something every parent approaches differently.
“The best thing I can do is manage my own emotions,” said Crystal Garrant, the mom of a fourth-grader in Atlanta, Georgia, who also works for the gun violence prevention group Sandy Hook Promise.
Garrant’s heightened angst, and that of many parents this week, is backed up by data : School shootings are up by 31% across the U.S., according to the latest data from the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety and David Riedman, founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database.
The frequency of gun violence in American schools has altered the way their kids’ campuses look and feel. Active shooter drills are part of the back-to-school season. Schools have bolstered security in recent years. Most teachers worry about shootings, surveys show . And some educators are now armed with guns.
For some parents, school drop off is ‘petrifying’
On the second day of the school year in Charlotte, North Carolina, Taylor Maxwell dropped off her 3-year-old at the preschool where her daughter has participated in lockdown drills since she was 2. Educators there teach the young kids to sit still and be quiet – a concept they’re still grasping as preschoolers.
Sending her daughter to school the day after a shooting in the South – where more people are gun owners than in other parts of the country, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center – was “a little terrifying,” Maxwell said.
“It’s really overwhelming to have someone so tiny who you love so much in a world that is really petrifying as a parent,” she said.
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In South Carolina, a 12-year-old broke into tears after her mother, a gun control advocate, told her about the two students and two teachers who'd been fatally shot at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
Their experiences in 24 hours, from coast to coast, capture some of the harsh realities of parenting in the United States as school shootings continue to plague campuses where families entrust their most vulnerable loved ones. Each time a new tragedy grips the country, parents contend with a renewed sense of foreboding about sending their children into school environments many feel can’t guarantee their safety. How to cope with those feelings – of anxiety, fear and helplessness – is something every parent approaches differently.
I think about it. Not often. Can't bear to do so. I hate to say this, but parents have power to change this in the classrooms of our nation. Stop sending their kids to schools that won't enlist true and proper changes to end gun violence of this sort. The schools can't risk losing their funding over this due to absenteeism. Effectively force a difference of attitudes (on guns) to sweep the country.
Mind you. I don't know what the solution is to the constitutional understanding (as expressed by courts), but I know people can't continue to live like this! Not with a 'sword of Damocles' hanging above the heads of children.
I'm sure the maniacal gun-worshippers will come up with a solution and of course it won't be common-sense gun-control legislation. They will probably suggest what the father of the 14-year-old who just killed 2 students and 2 teachers did, arm his son with a type of AR-15, in other words give the kids guns to defend themselves.
“The best thing I can do is manage my own emotions,” said Crystal Garrant, the mom of a fourth-grader in Atlanta, Georgia, who also works for the gun violence prevention group Sandy Hook Promise.
Garrant’s heightened angst, and that of many parents this week, is backed up by data : School shootings are up by 31% across the U.S., according to the latest data from the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety and David Riedman, founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database.
We pray, and pray, and pray over the child/ren and then we send them off into these schools where at any given 'somewhere' they can be killed. It's routine now to have expectation of school age children killing each other (14 years old? elementary school age—?) Are we so coarse or ideologically driven that we can't see the PTSD that we are all suffering through each school term. And no, red states and private schools are not protected from gun violence. We see it in these places too!
On another article about this subject I suggested bullet-proof vests be provided to all school kids, because, hey, you KNOW the gun-lovers aren't going to allow common sense gun control legislation. It's open season on kids.
On the second day of the school year in Charlotte, North Carolina, Taylor Maxwell dropped off her 3-year-old at the preschool where her daughter has participated in lockdown drills since she was 2.
Educators there teach the young kids to sit still and be quiet – a concept they’re still grasping as preschoolers.
Sending her daughter to school the day after a shooting in the South – where more people are gun owners than in other parts of the country, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center – was “a little terrifying,” Maxwell said.
“It’s really overwhelming to have someone so tiny who you love so much in a world that is really petrifying as a parent,” she said.
Kids hear and see almost as much as we do! They simply can't tune it in or reason that it won't serve their purposes to do so. Thus, they hear/listen and hold their tongues. (We did similarly as kids.) They are afraid. We, the adults, in this country are failing them. It saddens me to be a 'part' of that failure. . . but, I'm stuck in the same political hindrances as the rest of the change-agents around me!
I just realized that one of the reasons conservatives are doing whatever they can to prevent abortions is because more kids will be born to serve as targets for the gun-lovers.
There are people on here whose hearts will absolutely not be softened until it touches their own families.
Fuck your children, someone who amended the Constitution 245 years ago gave them the rights to bear military grade weapons for "sport".
That's more important than actual human lives unless you are talking about those not born yet.
Exactly!
"There are people on here whose hearts will absolutely not be softened until it touches their own families."
What exactly is that supposed to mean? It's not responsible law-abiding citizens who are doing these shootings, but common criminals and psychopathic sickos. Gun laws don't seem to keep weapons out of the hands of those who are intent on using them.
Ever consider the fact that gun laws are often not enforced?
Whose fault is that? The left is traditionally and historically soft on crime and prosecuting criminals and hobbling law enforcement.
Nobody needs mass murder guns. If someone wants to ruin their life and the lives of as many others as possible, let them be relegated to a gun that isn’t made to do that job specifically and give the innocent victims a fighting chance to escape their hateful violent crime.
Thousands of people die every day. Hundreds of them die at the hands of gunfire. It is , to quote JD Vance "a fact of life".
Therefore, sit back and enjoy it.
"Mass murder guns" are not needed for self defense. The only time they might be particularly useful would be in a zombie attack.
There is a mythical reason these guns are a choice - in order to fight the government in a "civil war". If militias ever do get a shooting war with the government they will be mowed down, Ar-15s at their side or not.
Meanwhile, millions of kids have to go through "live shooter drills" , putting in their minds that there is someone real out there who wants to kill them. Is this the best we can do?
No, it's not the best we can do. This-now is not the best that grade-schools can do! We can all recall that coming up we had no 'live-shooter drills" because we had it better than now on that accord. Something is wrong and. . . the issue with the collective 'us' can be resolved. It just takes willing adults who no longer wish/intend to deliberately FAIL THEIR KIDS AND THEIR KIDS' DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS of growing up whole and not chock full of bullets simply for wanting to be socially healthy and make friends on a campus they are COMPELLED to attend.
Isn't it weird. . . that as a nation we have to aspire to a time when kids won't have to mention a RATIONAL fear of going to classes?
What if kids could sue the city, state, or nation for being forced into spending hours of each week CAPTURED on a "killing field" of 'higher education.' —Oxymoronic, isn't it?
Historically the best we can do is thoughts and prayers until the tragedy is overcome by some other event, leaving us to wait for the next mass shooter to ruin more lives. Rinse and repeat.
We are all unwilling participants in a shortcoming of our nation. It's our shame, nevertheless. All of us, this nation, is failing its youth!
"Ever consider that fact that fun laws are often not enforced?"
Very true, but certain factions insist on trying to make new and mostly ineffective ones instead.
True.
Most school shootings are not done by responsible citizens-- but rather they are done by their children!!!
Think about ti-- how many of these school shooters were adults-- and how many were children?
And laws against drunk driving don't prevent drunk driving and the accompanying fatalies.
Should we not have laws against driving because they don't work?
Anyone remember this?
In the wake of the killing in Uvalde, here’s what America can learn from Australia’s response to tragedy.
Just because it worked in Australia doesn't mean it will work in the US.
Australia doesn't even have the population California does..........let alone the whole of the uS
And US citizens aren't just going to sit back and let a confiscation happen
We are a national 'community.' Don't like the 'accepted' terms of service for the nation: Leave the country. Change the rules. Follow the rules, anyway.
Facts are not based on population/scale.
It's cute that you think people will just sit back and allow a confiscation to take place in violation of the bill of rights. Have fun with that.
It's 'limited" thinking that suggests a minority of gunowners (even fewer holding 'confiscation issues') will withstand the compelling of a national community determined to do something meaningful and constructive about guns. (Not saying what the aforementioned will look like, but just being 'tough/toxic guys' won't guarantee any kind of victory for their ideology.)
You're right, Jeremy, cause in Australia children grow up to become adults.
You think non-weapons owners would sit back and allow a violation like that to occur? Just because you would sit back and allow it does not mean others will.
No idea what that comment means to communicate.
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Australia doesn't have that whole pesky constitutional thingy.
Morning Krishna..nope and nope..
Don't drag us into the gun law mess you have in America..I have said this many times over...it will not and would not work in America..
Simply for one fact...we have a completely different mentality when it comes to guns, full stop..
It is ingrained in your brains about gun ownership and laws.. nothing is ever going to change that besides it is all to late..
No guns are not banned here, certain types are but we are better armed and there are more guns in circulation now than before the Port Arthur massacre...
That was nearly 30 years ago and the facts and figures are no longer relevant...what is though is the number of souls lost on that day and I hope that never ever happens here again....
I can't open the link - is this what you linked to?
What can Australia 's reaction to a mass shooting teach us about guns ...
WEB May 29, 2022 · Australia 's National Firearms Agreement banned certain types of weapons, and instituted a gun buyback program for automatic and semi-automatic rifles and …
Before the law was passed in Australia they had a serious gun problem which is now minimal. All forms of crimes committed with a gun have dropped substantially including suicide.
A lesson too late for the learning in America, but it wasn't too late to learn in Australia and the UK. After all, in America, "Happiness is a Warm Gun".
Simple dems, call a constitutional congress of states and let the chips fall where they may.
Republican support would be necessary or it would be futile.
what i think he means is a constitutional convention , as permitted by Art V. but even then it would still have to face the same ratification process of the states , 3/4ths of the states would have to ratify , all it would take currently is 13 states to deny ratification , so all one has to figure is which 13 states would block the proposed amendment .
It doesnt matter if a proposed amendment comes from congress , or convention , it would still have to pass the 3/4 ths(75%) ratification of the states, if it doesnt , it fails .
At this point a Constitutional Amendment has no chance of passing.
I totally agree , i would also submit that cooperation and compliance with such an amendment would not be there as well .
prohibition comes to mind .
Exactly, And i see zero chance of it passing, but once a convention has started, think of the possibilities, Any state can propose a amendment, it doesn't have to be limited to guns, Term limits anyone? Balance budget? it could be a hoot.
Some write that like it's some sort of threat. All of us should aspire to good governance, and 'best practices.' It is not enough to simply DECLARE ourselves a good nation even when the facts (gun violence) state we are a nation running 'amok' in gun saturation and deaths. Our constitution is meant for our good as a nation; not to be a hindrance document or an excuse to sustain poor quality reasoning.
Well that is what happened during the last convention of states , it was called to supposedly fix the then governing document of the articles of confederation of its shortcomings , a limited convention one would say .
But madison and company , decided that that governing document could not be fixed so a new constitution as a governing document was created , and in doing so ,everything and anything could be brought to the table .
I dont know if i would say it would be a hoot to watch , but it sure would be interesting to watch what would be submitted for inclusion , for omittance , what governmental powers would be increased or decreased , by a group of todays society members with all their own ideas about basically everything . and thats keeping in mind tht it would still have to be accepted and ratified by the current constitutions methods of ratification, 3/4 ths of the states / 75%. .
If our current constitution is 'passing away' due to time and space. . . we owe it to future children to "UPDATE" it with sense and shared purpose.
We do not owe it blind loyalty and being underserved through it.
But what are the chances of most of them passing?
Personally I'm not interested in eveything that's submittted (most of which wouldn't pass anyway).
It what passes that's important.
that would replace the current governing document ? thats easy , nothing would pass.
Progressives: We need more laws! Repeal the 2nd Amendment!
Here's what happens in areas progressives control. From earlier this week:
17 year old gang banger arrested with illegal pistol
Immediately let go
Parents not charged (Lol at that happening)
Shoots a 49er three days later trying to steal his watch
Will get tried as a juvenile and be free to murder in a few months.
More laws criminals ignore will certainly solve this problem
No labels on crime and murder! Collectively, we all 'do it'-because we are in the cesspool of violence that our leaders let us sit/inhabit. And yes, we know that our some conservative citizenry won't let anything come into law that will aid a reduction in this violence. When they cooperate with solutions. . . this too, can be halted. That said, we, collectively are 'guilty' as charged because we all bear accountability to implement gun violence reduction.
How does passing laws that only responsible citizens follow with minimal to no punishment for those who flout sad laws stop violence?
Violence, particularly murder, is an extremely localized phenomena in this country. Yet the people in those murder centers don't want murderers punished. Until that changes, all the paper laws in the world aren't going to change anything.
Oc course more laws will be effective, since we passed that law making it illegal to kill people nobody had died except from natural causes. (s)
We're all guilty. Time for us all to own it. We're intelligent people. . . paralyzed into doing nothing, but watching kids murder each other with our quiet assent.
Sort of like laws against drunk driving-- since we passed those laws nobody ever drives drunk!
(So perhaps we should repeal those laws...because no everybody obeys tham obey them!)
Great idea-- only pass laws that all criminals will follow.
And any laws that criminals don't follow must be repealed.
Brilliant-- absolutely brilliant!
Gone too soon. Look at those faces. Please, look deeply into them and feel something of beauty that is gone out of this world.
Our nation shall not be forgiven for sitting around simply talking and otherwise apathetic while innocent life is destroyed by inaction on gun policy and mental health crises running rampant inside the country.
We collectively failed these citizens.
Morning...and unfortunately many more faces will follow..
The souls that have already been lost and many others before them, will soon be forgotten other than by family and friends..
Time moves along with barely a ripple till the next time and the process is repeated...and that is truly tragic for all....
Actually, some of us do remember. . . in my case going all the way back to Sandy Hook Elementary. I will never, ever, forgive congress and the people who won't let any legislation which edifies and appropriately deal with gun violence in our nation pass—until they do something substantial about it! Yes! The souls are lost to us, nevertheless.
Incidentally, big picture, I imagine the world's 'strongmen' are licking their chops that the United States is divided politically by a lot! ('Strongmen' do their part to see to our international decline.) We have our own internal 'strongman' who goes by the name, "Donald" and his supporters to contend with (and yes, bring back into the 'fold'). We are confronted on multiple internal 'fronts' - of which gun excess is just one cause of our incremental demise.
You can add "and at least one grandparent abroad" to that list.
WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF AMERICA