This afternoon, 4 students were murdered in the most recent school shooting in America. Researchers at the Washington Post say more than 378,000 students have experienced gun violence in schools in the US. Today's tragedy at Apalachee High School in Georgia adds 13 more to that list.

School should be a safe environment and not a shooting range. Tragic events such asRobb Elementary, Sandy Hook Elementary, Parkland High School, Columbine High School and many more have left survivors, victims, and the community economically and emotionally destroyed.

The cause of school shootings range from unaddressed mental health issues, bullying, and conflicts around gun control. 61% of attackers in these school shooting scenarios used fire arms and 39% used bladed weapons. People are easily able to get guns; often gifts from friends and/or family members. There are few if any requirements for training leading to frequent mishandling and misuse of these guns. Combined  with the fact that many of these untrained gun owners have undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues and have previously shown "odd and concerning" behavior, is a recipe for tragedy. 

A recent study at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research has found that the mere exposure of school shootings has negatively impacted  the mental health  of students as young as 9 years old causing such as trauma, stress, and PTSD. The continued media coverage that comes with school shootings adds an enormous amount of additional fear to the already tragic events. Simple exposure has consequences on the school experience; drops in attendance, decreased graduation rates and general failure to achieve academically are the end results.

So what can we do to prevent these events from happening? Primarily, we should enforce stricter gun laws to keep people safe both  in and out of school. Better and more consistent supports and resources need to be provided for those struggling with mental health issues. There should be increased security measures in schools to keep everyone on campus safe including social/emotional factors like making school an inclusive environment. Students need to feel safe to report bullying and harassment to a trusted adult.

Overall, school should be a place where students learn. Students and  teachers should not be afraid of their school's campus. Parents should not be afraid that their children may not make it home from campus either. To make a change and help prevent even more future tragedy at American schools, visit and support Lives Robbed, to advocate for change and to remember the lives of those lost.