photo credit: Sophie Rogers
In 2024, there have been at least 50 school shootings so far in the United States ranging from college campuses to elementary schools. These incidents have left 24 dead and 66 injured according to CNN’s analysis of events reported by the Gun Violence Archive.
Studies have shown that school shootings have taken a major toll on the students after they witness or heard about shootings near them. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia states that the effects prove to be very strenuous, causing students and staff to suffer from traumatic stress symptoms of depression or anxiety.
“It causes a lot of mental and physical stress, from adrenaline dumps to fear, to problem-solving, to checking all the boxes to make sure nothing was missed, and making sure everyone necessary is involved and updated. Typically, the mental stress pours over into physical stress. Everyone must act quickly and make immediate decisions to protect the students,” Student Resource Officer Monica Brock said.
Schools have found that the main way to prevent shooting threats is to enact specific, consistent protocols that law enforcement is aware of.
“Schools prevent active threats by implementing locked doors, a secure check-in area for all visitors, which requires identification… Additionally, fewer hallway passes because they make you vulnerable and the first target if there is an active threat. Plus, it distracts staff and the SRO from being able to spot other suspicious people in the halls and buildings who actually could be a threat,” Brock said.
These safety protocols have been the topic of discussion lately not only in school districts but also nationwide in politics as stated on national news networks. One major shooting threat on Sept. 4 that turned into an active shooting left the nation shocked when an Apalachee High School student in Georgia came into his school with a gun and started an attack according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Attacks like these have led to many discussions between not only law enforcement, but also staff.
“If we had a history of kids bringing weapons to school then yes, 100 percent we should have metal detectors. Pertaining to the monitors that the teachers had during the Georgia shooting, if I had access to a panic button with me at all times for any situation, yes, I think it would be a good thing with proper training,” art teacher Kathleen Kikta said.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a major increase in the amount of school shooting threats all over the country. According to CNN, there were at least 82 incidents in 2023, but 2022 was one of the deadliest years, with 46 fatalities. That year saw the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two educators were killed and more than a dozen others were injured. Since that period, school shootings have decreased throughout the country. This data is consistent with the idea that the violence is influenced by economic and social factors.
“The increase is due to social media. In a short period of time, one post became the same for many different schools. Too many people see and share things on social media without first thinking of the potential consequences of that post,” Brock said.
Shooting threats spreading to social media has caused staff to lean more on law enforcement to put an end to potential shooting threats. School districts constantly go back to strengthening the protection in school buildings and according to The Week, some school districts have even ventured to spend more than $3 billion on safety to aid law enforcement.
“An active threat has a sole purpose: to inflict as many casualties as possible. If no one is ever in the hallways or bathrooms and classroom doors are always locked, then all possible targets have been eliminated. No one will be harmed, and it will make my job of finding and stopping the threat a lot easier,” Brock said.
Shooting threats in schools have led to many serious discussions but almost all the administrators come back to the same conclusion: safety is the No. 1 goal to protect the students. In an unscientific poll, the majority of the student body feels safe in both the classrooms and hallways due to the safety protocols put in place by the administration.
“There is a wide communication with the staff to make sure everything is safe and secure. School safety is my No. 1 priority by a long shot. With regards to students and parents the best piece of advice I would give is to have that proactive mindset,”
Principle Monica Asher said.
School shooting threats have become a major tragedy happening in the country right now that has persuaded school districts to take action in making schools safer.
