We Must Do Better
Within the last year I have sat down to write this post and have never quite gotten it to where I want it to be. I vent and record my thinking, but I never went back to it to create anything to share with the outside world. However, this weekend’s events have created a situation where I feel, for my own sanity and ability to process these hate-filled atrocities, as well as for the overall conversation, I must share.
We have a major mass shooting issue in the United States. I could give you all of the ridiculous statistics I have seen over the last couple of years after each of the mass shootings we all endure, however, I think we all can feel comfortable agreeing we have an issue. These events are not healthy for society and it is not something we should come to expect as a regular occurrence in our everyday life. If the frequency of these horrific events do not move you emotionally, then maybe a comparison with other developed countries would help show you that, per capita, we blow everyone else out of the water (not in a good way). It is unequivocally a major issue in the United States only.
As a school principal, I have an especially unique point of view on this issue as I have had to come to grips with the reality that I could be catapulted into the situation of managing a building in the throws of a terrifying event. Thus, from a very logical and personal/emotional level, I am forced to examine the potential causes of these events and if there is a way to keep them from occurring on both an individual school level as well as from a societal point of view.
In terms of our school-level preparedness, we are in a good place. As a school and as a district, we are constantly evolving and staying focused on the latest information and technology available to help keep our building safe. My staff does an outstanding job of realizing the importance of keeping every individual safe and if we don’t practice seriously, then we can never be fully prepared.
From a policy perspective, our approach in this country is simply mixed up. We don’t place a high value people’s health and overall well being. We say we do, but our policies often add more stress, make us less safe, and often put us in a position where it is beneficial to think of ourselves as individuals, rather than as a member of society where we all benefit when more people prosper.
We know the solutions. However, our politicians opt for political interest and satisfying those in “power” as opposed to those they represent. It is time we prioritize our people and their overall health and safety rather than the political and monetary gain of a few.
If we want to crackdown on mass shootings (and we say we do), we must address people’s access to guns. Obviously, there are other factors as well, but access to automatic or semi-automatic weapons matters deeply in an individual’s ability to carry out an attack. Out of all the major factors that play a role in mass shootings, this is probably the most tangible and easiest to control by Congress. However, because of campaign contributions and a perceived belief system that the founding fathers had AR-15’s in mind when they wrote the Constitution, this has not (and potentially will not) happened. It must also be pointed out that the guns used in these attacks are meant for warfare and not personal usage. Instead of valuing the well-being of all, we prioritize individual and corporate freedoms, regardless of the increased threat they present. Just as I have learned as a Principal, we must stand up to bullies and make sure we are making decisions based on the safety of the potential victims.
My heart goes out to all of the victims from over the weekend as well as all of those who loved them. However, my heart also goes out to those children who witness the inability of adults to reach solutions that will benefit the health, safety, and prosperity of the greater good. We must not only say we value the health and well-being of our citizens, but we must put actions behind those words. Mass shootings are a detriment to us all and we must take common sense approaches to eliminating the threat as much as possible. Student lives depend on it.
