Growing up outside the Twin Cities, I was no stranger to hiding under desks, closing the blinds, blocking the doors, and huddling in a corner with my classmates. It is something my generation has done since we left home and started school. I am used to the lock downs, the mandatory work training, and the fear. In elementary school, while playing tag with my friends on the playground, a loud band was heard, and smoke filled the sky. Teachers quickly ushered us into the building, but my first thought was my sister across the track. She was in Physical Education, and without a second thought, I quickly ran to find her. Teachers assured me that she would be fine and that I should get into the building immediately, but at the age of 9 years old, I had seen the news, heard the stories, and knew that was not always the case. I was ushered into the building by a hoard of kindergarteners and fourth graders and found my way into her classroom where I stood by the door waiting for her to show up.
Thankfully, she did, and we huddled in the back of the classroom, under her teacher’s desk and away from any windows just like we had been taught. It turns out that someone’s car had been set on fire, or it blew up or something, but every memory muddles together now. The point is, I am familiar with the saying, “Run, Hide, Fight,” and I am sure you are too. It is not something I think about daily, but I noticed I always plot my escape plan. When I enter the movie theatre, I mark the nearest exit, just in case there is a repeat of the Dark Knight shooting. I make sure my backpack is packed to the max with my books in case I need to use it as a shield. And I am always in contact with my friends and loved ones, in case something happens. Some may find this a bit dramatic, a lot of people in fact. And you may have a point, but the fact is, that mass shootings do not stop after you graduate high school, and at this rate, they will never end.
According to an article in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, everyday 100 lives are lost due to the act of gun violence in the United States. In 2023, there has been 299 incidents this year, with 221 victims. This information was found on “The Violence Project,” which took me to the “K-12 School Shooting Database” so to those saying gun violence and mass shootings in schools are not a problem, then why does this database exist? Scrolling through this database brings attention to the gun control issues our nation can no longer ignore. The website dates back to 1966 and is current to 2023. Since 2018, the number of school shootings alone has grown at a significant rate. The Violence Project is run through Hamline University in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. A statement on their ‘about us’ page explains that the Violence Project, “is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on reducing violence through research that is both accessible and geared toward action.” I highly recommend you look at both websites to see the full extent of gun violence in the United States.
Run, Hide, Fight, in that order. A phrase that has been drilled into our brains since we left the house and started school. Even now, when we start a new job, we must watch the videos and run through the procedure. Growing up in a time when mass shootings were a reoccurring event, something we saw on the news at least once a year. What happens in schools just like yours, regardless of age group or area. Always wondering, when yours will be next.
Source:
Sanchez, C., Jaguan, D., Shaikh, S., McKenney, M., & Elkbuli, A. (2020). A systematic review of the causes and prevention strategies in reducing gun violence in the United States. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 38(10), 2169–2178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2020.06.062
Claire Arneson is a Dakota Student Section Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
