The school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School took place in 2012. A decade later, we find ourselves living in the same America, with 19 children and two adults dead after yet another tragedy, this time occurring in Texas, at Robb Elementary School. This is now the second deadliest shooting in the history of the United States.
The Gunman
The gunman is Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old who shot his grandmother prior to driving to the school, putting her in critical condition. He then crashed his car in a nearby ditch and was seen wearing a bulletproof vest, along with carrying a long rifle into the school. He was later killed by the responding law enforcement on the scene.
The Officers
These officers were “risking their own lives,” said Marsha Espinosa, the Department of Homeland Security Spokeswoman in a tweet. “These Border Patrol Agents and other officers put themselves between the shooter and the children on the scene to draw the shooter’s attention away from potential victims and save lives.”
The School
We know that Robb elementary and the rest of the school year has been cancelled, as Thursday was meant to be their last day of school before summer break. We also know that an unimaginable tragedy like this and ones of the past should not be as common as they are.
The Need for Change
Senator Chris Murphy’s angry speech at the Senate has gone viral overnight, as he asked the question that all Americans are wondering, “What are we doing?”. Murphy said that there have been more mass shootings than days in the year. He explained the fear that now exists among students and parents alike when it comes to walking into a school. The speech stood as a call to action to his fellow Senators and other people in power, to make the choice to let this end.
Everytown for Gun Safety is an American nonprofit organization which advocates for gun control and against gun violence. It is a collection of victims, families, educators, gun owners and citizens who seek to restore the faith in government, schools and humanity in general.
Amanda Gorman is an American poet and activist, most known for her poem she read at the Inaugural Address of Joe Biden and is a supporter of Everytown. She posted the link for donations and education of the organization on her Instagram. The photo that this link accompanied is one that you have most likely seen reposted on your Instagram stories, but in case you haven’t, VALLEY leaves you with this— “It takes a monster to kill children. But to watch monsters kill children again and again and do nothing isn’t just insanity—it’s inhumanity.”
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