By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green High School students have not known a time absent of mass shootings at schools. They have seen school emergency drills expand to mass shooting exercises – knowing they are more likely to be killed at school by a gun than a tornado or fire.
After years of watching school shootings multiply, BGHS freshman Calla Higgins decided to take a stand. She was joined Wednesday morning by about 175 fellow high school students who are tired of gun violence in school classrooms, hallways, libraries and cafeterias.
Across the nation, students walked out of their schools, expressing the same fears and frustrations.
In Bowling Green, the students gathered by the high school spirit rock, holding signs reading “Bullets are not school supplies,” “Thoughts and prayers need action,” and “The scariest thing at school should be my grades.”
“We’re the ones who have to worry about this happening to us,” Calla said. “It’s heartbreaking. We need more than thoughts and prayers.”
Across the nation Wednesday, students held walkouts in response to growing gun violence at U.S. schools. Since Columbine in 1999, schools in the U.S. have suffered 377 shootings with more than 349,000 students having experienced gun violence in their schools, according to the Washington Post.
But the number of students affected by the growing threat of mass shootings is incalculable.
“The United States is experiencing a devastating amount of school shootings and nothing is being done,” Calla said. “As of last week, 96 people have been killed or injured on a school campus this year because of a gun. There have only been 94 days this year, including weekends.”
The grim statistic is that firearms are now the leading cause of death for ages 6-18 in the U.S.
“This doesn’t need to be happening. There is no reason that children should go to school and fear they might not go home. We can end this. By standing together, we send a message. Let our legislators know we are tired of thoughts and prayers and that we demand action.”
Surrounded by students who share her concerns, Calla continued.
“We want to arm our classmates with knowledge as we read books – not eulogies.”
“We want our local police to protect us and not stand back because they are afraid of the powerful assault rifles and high capacity magazines, like what happened in Uvalde.”
“The second amendment of our Constitution provides for a well regulated militia,” Calla said, stressing the words “well regulated.” “Yet it can be harder to buy cold medicine than it is to buy a gun. This needs to change.”
“Our legislators need to hear our voices,” and pass meaningful legislation, she said. “We have the power to make a difference. No other students or staff should die in a classroom.”
Bowling Green High School Principal Dan Black said he supported the student walkout, which lasted about 15 minutes.
“It’s their First Amendment right to do this,” he said. “It is an act of civil disobedience, so I did talk to them about that.”
Though the national walkout time was set for noon, Black offered a compromise of 9:20 a.m., since students would not lose instructional time then.
“I think students should be able to voice their concerns,” he said, noting that their feelings are shared by many adults.
“It’s something that keeps a lot of us awake at night,” Black said.
Students were not required to attend the walkout, and some chose to attend two other group meetings at the same time, one of which was planning for the prom, which several juniors and seniors selected to attend.
High school counselor Doug Niekamp, who watched over the walkout with Black, said he occasionally hears from students who have concerns about gun violence at schools. Last week, after the shooting at a Nashville school that killed three students and three adults, Niekamp said a student visited his office saying their family was concerned about safety at school.
J.R. Perz, who joined the walkout, shared his concern about the next generation if measures aren’t taken to stop gun violence. “I think about my younger brother and sister,” he said.
K.C. Frasor, carrying a sign saying “Plz don’t shoot me,” also expressed his frustration. “I think that a shooting a day is pretty messed up,” he said.
Calla voiced her appreciation for students who stood with her against gun violence.
“I want to thank each of you for walking out today. You are making a difference,” she said. “We will make a difference together. Never again.”
