Communities across the country have made their voices heard

False alarm. The loud “Bang” in the hallway is just the noise of binders being dropped on the floor. Teachers gradually remove magnetic locks that had been installed into place, and hesitantly proceed with class. Shocker: this situation is an extremely common one to students in the 21st century. Through the years, mass shootings have spread from school district to district, and have produced some of the nation’s most infamous shooting cases, such as Oxford, Sandy Hook, Stoneman Douglas, and more.

Numerous student-led protests have expanded in regards to the school shooting in Oxford, Michigan that resulted in the arrest of Ethan, James and Jennifer Crumbley, and others over the years. Several organizations have thus been formed, such as Sandy Hook Promise, an organization that specializes in ensuring that all children in school are protected from any threats. It was established in honor of the Sandy Hook victims that were killed as a result of the shooting there in 2012. Through the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, youth leaders are able to focus on specific issues, such as background checks on gun sales, Extreme Risk Protection Orders to support law enforcement or family members attached to gun-related crime issues, and the STOP School Violence Act. This act, which has passed in the United States House of Representatives, presents itself as bipartisan safety legislation expanding access to school violence protection programs across the country. These measures have proven beyond successful; currently, upwards of 12 million individuals have contributed towards ending this tragedy of school shootings.

Students are petrified. Staff members are helpless. Yet, we can continue to act. By aligning with organizations and promoting the forming of anti-gun-violence clubs at school, students can further efforts towards establishing schools nationwide as safe spaces. There is still so much to accomplish, and so much to hope for.