We can prevent school shootings

By Shayna McMillion
URichwood High School

On Sept. 26, an adult male held six students hostage at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colorado. He sexually assaulted the girls before fatally shooting one of them and killing himself.

Less than a week later, an armed milk truck driver took over a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Bart Township, Pennsylvania. He killed four young girls and seriously injured seven others before killing himself. (One girl later died from her injuries.)

When public schools and tiny one-room schoolhouses become the scenes of school shootings, the situation seems hopeless, but there are things we can do to prevent these tragedies.

First, we must be aware that this kind of thing can happen to us at our school — no matter where it may be. We seem to have forgotten that school shootings can happen anywhere, even in small, tight-knit communities. Therefore, we cannot let our guards down.

The second thing we can do is be civilized and not give anyone a harder time than what he or she might already have. Though these two incidents were perpetrated by adults, past school shootings have come at the hands of students who were teased and picked on by their peers.

The third thing we can do is get to know different people and branch out from our circle of friends. If we see someone in our school having a hard time or keeping to him- or herself, we should go introduce ourselves, talk to them and let them know that there are people there for them. Give them a list of people they may be able to talk to like counselors, teachers or other community members.

Finally, we need to report anything suspicious. Most school shooters talk to someone or brag about their plans beforehand.

We can’t completely prevent school shootings, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be prepared. Students and teachers shouldn’t lose their lives because of situations that can be foreseen and prevented.