There have been a total of eight school shootings in the United States since January 1st of this year. So many people are affected by a tragedy like this and I can’t even imagine what the families of the victims are going through.

The number of school shootings has affected both students and staff in a negative way. The thought of going to school has brought fear to students, making us think, “Will I be another statistic?” It has affected our ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach, as some are just waiting for each class to end so they can finally go home. It’s that stressful. School is supposed to be a place where students can feel safe, now it’s a place where students live in fear almost every day.

Students and staff aren’t the only ones affected by school shootings, families are as well. It’s not fair for families to feel worried and concerned about their kids’ safety at a place where they’re supposed to feel safe and protected. Losing a child is described as “the worst feeling in the world” and no family should ever have to go through something as awful as that, but many do. Students go to school to learn, not to die.

How many more school shootings will it take for this problem to come to an end? People suffer and are forced to cope with these types of tragedies more often than not. Parents shouldn’t have to fear taking their kids to school, wondering if  they’ll get that one phone call or text that will change their life. Students shouldn’t be afraid to get an education, and teachers shouldn’t be afraid to do their job.

After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida, the students are speaking out saying, “We are going to be the last mass shooting.” Students are planning on walking out of schools to protest gun laws. One national event is planned on March 14th, which is PSD’s spring break, marking one month after the Florida shooting. There’s another walk out protest “March For Our Lives” Saturday, March 24th in Denver at the Colorado State Capital from 2-5pm.