By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
On the last day of school Thursday, Audrey Nester could have charged for the parking lot and bid farewell to another year of school.
But instead the Bowling Green High School junior couldn’t leave without taking a stand against gun violence in schools. In the wake of the May 24 shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 21 people dead, Nester rallied a group of students to stand in silence, then speak out.
Students across the nation feel numb to the frequent school shootings and helpless to stop the tragedies, Nester said.
According to the Sandy Hook Promise organization, there have been 948 school shootings since the slaughter at Sandy Hook Elementary that took 26 lives in 2012.
“It’s happening so often,” Nester said. “I just feel like we get ignored.”
Legislative reform on guns is needed to stop the shootings, she said.
“We can send all the thoughts and prayers – it’s not going to make a change.”
But any legislation suggested by Democrats is blocked by Republicans, Nester said. “They have been immediately shot down.”
Other BGHS students voiced similar concerns.
“How much is a life worth?” asked Faeth Buchhop. Not much, based on the actions of the National Rifle Association and many politicians, she said. In Uvalde, the 18-year-old gunman had legally purchased two assault rifles and scores of ammo used in the shooting.
“Why do we have to live in fear?” Buchhop asked.
Today’s students and school staffs have to train for shooters entering their buildings. Buchhop asked why the onus is put on students and teachers to defend themselves – rather than efforts being made to stop the shooters.
“I’m sick and tired of being told what I can do to stay alive,” she said.
Change will not come until students unite to protest school shootings, Buchhop added.
“We must do our best to show our unrest,” she said.
Student Tyler Thompson said he is weary of mental health issues being blamed for mass shootings. He cited statistics about one in five Americans having a diagnosed mental illness. That is the same as seen in Canada and Australia, and fewer than diagnosed in Great Britain.
Yet the U.S. has more than 10 times the number of gun violence incidents.
“Many are quick to blame mental illness,” Thompson said, noting that the vast majority of people with mental health issues are not violent. “Hate is not a mental illness.”
Gun laws targeting just mental illness won’t stop gun deaths, since 97% of gun crimes aren’t attributed to mental illness, he said.
Thompson suggested that students talk with adults about the issue, then vote for people supporting gun control legislation when they are able.
“The gun violence epidemic is sweeping the country,” he said.
Bowling Green High School Principal Dan Black said some students are fearful of school shootings.
“After every school shooting, we get some kids who don’t come to school the next couple days,” he said.
Black said he supported the students’ right to protest.
“I applaud the kids for standing up for what they believe in,” he said.
