enough to have not had a war on home turf since the Civil War. However, for decades there have been weapons of war on our streets. Each year, there are over 30,000 gun-related homicides in our country. That number far surpasses the numbers of France, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Sweden, Italy, and many others.
President Obama’s “Now is the Time” plan to protect children and communities from gun violence states that, “federally licensed firearm dealers are required to run background checks on those buying guns.” However, about 40 percent of gun sales are made by private sellers, who are exempt from those requirements.
Our lenience with gun laws has allowed for 43 (recorded) incidences of school shootings from December, 2012 to January, 2014. Of these, four were at elementary schools, five at middle schools, 14 at high schools, and 16 at higher education institutes, according to Demandaction.org.
These shootings have stirred up feelings of shock and anger, causing people to live in fear. But some schools, tired of feeling victimized, have enacted methods of defense against the unexpected.
The National Rifle Association has said that the best response to “serious threats” of gun violence in schools is to have administrators armed and ready for action. Numerous schools across the country are starting to head in that direction.
A school in Briggsdale, Colorado began allowing teachers to hold concealed weapons in the classroom after the shootings at Sandy Hook.
Superintendent Rick Mondt of Briggsdale High School told reporters that “it is about a 20-minute drive from the nearest police station to the school,” putting the school at a disadvantage.
According to the Huffington Post, Dove Creek High School voted in 2013 to allow two top administrators to carry a concealed weapon after two of the school’s students threatened to kill the principal.
Less conservative Illinois hasn’t yet offered weapons for teachers to hold in classrooms; however York High School has taken some new precautions. New this year is a no gun sign, found posted on most exterior doors.
“The no gun signs were placed on the doors as required by the new concealed carry law in Illinois,” said Officer Kucera. “The signs are required to be posted at all public and private schools in Illinois.”
Some students see the signs as ineffective.
“I think it [gun violence] is out of hand,” junior Tess Lynam said. “But the laws that are in place—putting a sticker on a door that says ‘no guns’ … if a person is going to bring a gun into a school, they’re going to do it regardless of a sticker.”
Even with the efforts being made to control guns, there are still massive improvements to be made.
“It’s a paradox in that, no matter what we do, there is going to be societal backlash,” said junior Katelyn Thurnall.