Save Kids, Not Guns

Alexis Dagar and Zander Moreno|March 15, 2018

Save+Kids%2C+Not+Guns

Yesterday, our students staged a peaceful demonstration that included a reading of the names of the victims of the Florida high school shooting by students and teachers who represented those victims, Jenna Santana sang, and students were given orange ribbons. It was a beautiful gathering of concerned students and staff. Here are what a few attendees had to day about the issues at hand:

“I am out here to support the people who died [in Florida] and I want to give my silence to them. It is important to let everybody know that we need to support other people when they are in need. We should have stricter gun control because it is not okay for just anyone to have easy access to weaponry. My opinion on ALICE training is that it is a really great thing that our school is implementing this certain method of training just in case there is an intruder in campus.” Armando Tamayo (12)

“I’m out here today to support the 17 victims who were a part of this tragedy. It’s gotten to a point where schools are a place where you now need to be aware and cautious of your surroundings. This is not a place that someone can just shoot up; this is a place where you’re supposed to be respected and get an education. This is where we are developing our future leaders and it is not right to tragically end the lives of the innocent no matter the cause or reason. Gun control is a very heated topic and a very heated debate, but in my opinion there needs to be stricter gun laws. Politicians and the government need to do something in order to help protect our students and help reduce the amount of casualties that take place in school shootings. I think ALICE is a new method in protecting each other and being aware of our surroundings. If put into action properly, I think it can actually benefit us as a whole.” Yadira Barrera (12)

“Yeah I think for the most part is has to do with mental illness. Gun restriction is required and it has been required for a long time. There has been multiple shootings not just in schools but in hang out places. People shouldn’t be worried of going out and be living in fear it will be their last day. Gun violence has been getting worse; we shouldn’t have waited this long to speak out but we have to do something before it is completely out of hand. Gun restriction is a start but also more mental support and awareness. We constantly joke around about these type of topics but we have to stop and take a stand. Students and teachers have much to do to help. For one it’s getting on the same boat to fight off this problem. Students need to stop joking around and teachers have to be less lenient about serious topics and offer help to students who are struggling.  There are multiple students who would much rather suffer alone in mental illness or are to afraid to ask for help and we has a group need to stop making mental illness a joke or just stop treating it as a bad day. Definitely we should get more protests. If we wants things to change we have to start by changing ourselves and fighting for our beliefs. Every great activist has started by protesting and standing up for their beliefs. Right now the protests we are making may seem like small whisper but as we keep progressing it will turn to a load roar that Congress can’t ignore.”- Angie  Peña (11)

 

“No, I don’t think it’s a mental problem, I think it was a hate crime. This 19 year old was full of hate and doesn’t have any regard for human life, I don’t think that’s the way to solve the problem because he isn’t mentally ill. He was probably racist, a bigot, who gives people with mental illness a bad name. Gun restrictions have been required all along, this isn’t the first school shooting we’ve had. Do I think it’s required? I know it’s required. The politicians up in Washington need to get themselves checked and realize that this isn’t the first and it won’t be the last [school shooting] if gun restrictions don’t happen, these 17 people would’ve died in vain. Students and teachers can inform themselves and not be ignorant about the situation, looking from an informed perspective, people just need to be informed and to not forget what happened, don’t let these kids die in vain, don’t let them not be a catalyst for change because that’d be a waste of life. These people don’t get to live any longer, they don’t get to fight for these things and it would be bad for us to not do anything about it. Yes, I think [protests] need to be more peaceful, this [walkout] was a memorial, which I don’t see as bad because it was very positive, but I don’t think they do anything. We’re one school in a small city, in one state out of the 50. I think it does inform people, it’s a basis for starting to create change. It’s important and it’s good for people, but I don’t think it’s helpful.” Kelsey Marshall (11) (Third right)

“No, I don’t think you have to be mentally ill to go and shoot someone. I feel like you have to be really hurt and not get help to the point where; instead of ending your life, you want to end someone else’s. If you do that then maybe you don’t feel as guilty towards the problems that are going on within you. Yes, it shouldn’t be as easy to get a gun, if a person wants to get a gun they’re going to get a gun no matter what. It should at least be harder, if you’re planning [a shooting], the harder it is to get a gun, and the more [the person] is going to think about it. They’ll decide ‘maybe it’s not the best idea,’ but if it’s easier then they think ‘oh, I got [the gun], I’m going to go do it.’ Students and teachers can offer more help, even if there is counselors you’re going to continue to be hurt, so the person won’t go to the counselor and get help. It’s hard to be silent, at least call the students up to talk to them. Yes, I think we should, the more we speak out and inform the people, they’re going to hear you out instead of just staying silent.” Karen Pacheco (11) (second left)

“The issue is not all about mental illness. For example, I will use Nikolas Cruz and his actions as evidence of mental illness. As many reported; yes, he had issues that mentally and emotionally affected him which were the cause(s) of his actions. He has always been a trouble maker and had stopped seeing his therapist. His mental issues were a part of the problem but those illnesses were not the total cause of the issue. He made threats online (Instagram & Youtube) saying that he was going to be a school shooter also saying that he was planning to shoot up the school. Nikolas also posted many disturbing photos on his Instagram which included videos of killing animals with weapons he owned, but the problem was; the FBI tracked those comments back to Nikolas. In the end, the FBI could’ve stopped his actions if they would’ve done something when the comments were made, this is another part of the issue. Definitely, after what happened on February 14th more and more kids have been making “jokes” or actual threats about ‘shooting up the school.’ First, if you are making jokes about this type of issue, I guarantee you that you wont’t be laughing if a person with a gun is on campus, harming your peers. Yes, gun restrictions are necessary but guns shouldn’t be banned because we have a right to bear arms to protect ourselves from the government. Many say that protests won’t do anything and that they’re pointless and I respect their opinion(s). In my opinion, I honestly don’t really know but I do have some hope that protests can make an impact on what you’re protesting against.” Chantel Medina (10)