No one can deny that the ever growing number of school shootings have been both unnecessary and frightening. Schools around the country are faced with threats and possible shootings that have disrupted learning and interrupted the lives of anyone who attends the school and all who are in the surrounding community. As for WCHS, each of the people we met and interviewed have their own opinions on this topic, but those opinions never strayed far from the fact the school shootings and school threats are frightening and sad. These school shootings not only affect the survivor’s lives but they affect the entire nation.

Interviews with Teachers and Students 

Ms. Denny

Q1: What are your views on the school shootings?

A: Sad and scary.

Q2: How can we prevent school shootings?

A: To make sure kids are not left out. I think a way to prevent school shootings is when kids look sad and alone, then be friends with them. Not just one day, but every day to make them feel part of something.

Ms. Brown

Q1: What are your views on the school shootings?

A: It makes me nervous, as a teacher and as a parent. But, I know we try everything we can to make sure kids are safe in school. Also, we make and have plans in place. I am optimistic that the kids can make a change what is occurring.

Q2: How can we prevent school shootings?

A: We need more access to mental health. We need to make sure guns don’t get into the wrong hands. If we hear or know something we need to tell an adult as soon as we can.

Ms. Waldron

Q1: What are your views on the school shootings?

A: My views on the school shootings are that it is a very tragic situation. I think beside stricter gun control laws on automatic weapons we have to look at changing people’s hearts and minds. If we don’t value people then it’s easier to think that you can just do away with them. Life is precious, and we need to do a better job of teaching our children that truth.

Q2: How can we prevent school shootings?

A: I don’ t know that you can prevent everything. I mean as parents and teachers we try to take every precaution that we can, but if someone is deeply disturbed and unpredictable and you don’t know that I don’t know that they can be stopped. We just need to do a better job of being aware when others are disturbed or in pain and not being afraid to try to reach out to help them or to stop them if they’re obviously getting ready to do something that may be destructive to themselves or others.

Ms. Greene

Q1: What are your views on the school shootings?

A: Oh, it’s the scariest thing I can think of, and I am very much favor of gun control. I don’t think any private citizen needs an assault rifle. Hunters use hunting rifles, and people who want to protect their homes, a lot of them have illegally have guns, but assault rifles should be only for Military and the Police.

Q2: How can we prevent school shootings?

A: I think one way is together.  Get as many kids as you can to feel comfortable in school, to feel safe and to know that people care about them. Another way I think is through gun control and maybe hidden police in the schools.

Faith Wilson (11)

Q1: What are your views on the school shootings?

A:  Of course I believe school shootings are terrible. It seems that once one person does it, others start doing it too. I almost think if school shootings weren’t so publicized then others wouldn’t get ideas. I’ve seen television shows and video games promoting teens killing one another. They romanticize the idea of revenge and killing others. The movies that some teens are watching are R rated horror films. In today’s society, we seem to praise getting away with murder. It’s as if there are no consequences for our actions. As a teenager, I become frustrated with my classmates when they don’t care who they hurt, or how rude they are. Frankly, it all starts in the home. When a child is brought up to learn morals, principles, and values, then they are more likely to have a conscience of what is right and wrong. I truly believe that if we didn’t have guns, then they would find another way of hurting other people. Back in Daniel’s day, they killed each other stones! What disturbs me is the idea that only the criminals would have guns out on the streets. It’s not the law-abiding citizens that are misusing weapons. It’s mostly the criminals that already get them without legal permission. I suppose though, that in most cases the shooters are mentally ill, and it is much harder to prevent. We can try to make others feel welcome, and instill Love towards one another. If we pay attention to those who are hurting and in need, maybe we can help them before it’s too late.

Q2: How can we prevent school shootings?

A: The truest way to prevent school shootings is simple, but it sure isn’t easy. We need to be showing kindness to one another,  putting others before ourselves and showing forgiveness to other people. Most importantly though, we need to be loving on one another. In these hard times, we need to be encouraging to one another and hopeful. It is in our best interest to love on the unlovable, speak for those who can’t speak for themselves, and reach out to our community. We need to be standing up for what is right and what is true and what is just. It all begins with you, you, and all of us.  The most important thing can be; coming together, praying for our society and our schools that we can make a difference and a change.  We can help to turn this around and begin loving and showing Grace to others even when it seems impossible. If we did that, it wouldn’t change our schools, it would change the world. Remember, it starts with YOU!

Ellie Clay (10)

Q1: What are your views on the school shootings?

A:  I think it’s sad that school shootings are the norm in today’s society.

Q2: How can we prevent school shootings?

A:  The only effective way to prevent them that I see is stricter gun laws and removing military grade firearms from the market.

Ginny Gregory (10)

Q1: What are your views on the school shootings?

A:  My thoughts on school shootings are that I’m tired of coming to school everyday knowing I’ll have a conversation, or multiple conversations, about a school shooting escape plan with my peers. I think it’s so ludicrous that today’s youth have to worry about such issues, and that thoughts about pure survival are being forced into our minds.

Q2: How can we prevent school shootings?

A:  I agree with Ellie about preventing these acts by enforcing stricter gun laws, at least concerning gun regulation, as well as removing military grade firearms from the market.

March for our Lives 

On Saturday, March 24th, from 2-3:30, people will march from all over Woodford County to the front of the courthouse. People will march to help make a better world for their school and ensure that we are safe in our schools. At this march, all over the nation, people will have the opportunity to show that gun control legislation is needed and wanted for the safety of our schools.

For more info please visit: https://marchforlife.org/mfl-2018-old/