“We can never say, ‘I promise it’s not going to happen at your school,’” Dr. Gurwitch, a clinical psychologist who specializes in the impact of trauma and violence on children, said. “We can say, ‘We are doing everything we know how to do to keep you safe.’” (Mervosh, New York Times)

Everything? Really? Who are the ‘we’? Doing what exactly? Safe how?

First of all, let’s just admit it is the guns. Guns are the weapon of choice for America. Add to that fact, we are living with an outrageous abundance of guns. We also have an overwhelming number of civilians and politicians alike who want to keep guns handy. Sure, they offer prayers for the murdered children and their grieving families, but will they do anything to keep another school shooting from happening? No. They will not. Far from doing everything, mostly we have taught our children to fear.

The fact that we are a nation overrun by guns is clear.

“According to the most recent estimates, the United States has between 400 million and 500 million civilian-owned firearms. There are 1.93 firearms for every adult in the U.S. and 1.5 for every American citizen, including children. In 2022, there were 22 million people with concealed carry permits. 46% of American households—approximately 65.19 million—contain at least one firearm.” (McBride)

Children pay the price for our obsession with guns.

“Every day, 23 children and teens (1-17) are shot in the United States. Among those:

• 6 die from gun violence
• 3 are murdered
• 17 children and teens survive gunshot injuries
• 8 are intentionally shot by someone else and survive
• 2 children and teens either die from gun suicide or survive an attempted gun suicide
• 8 children and teens are unintentionally shot in instances of family fire — a shooting involving an improperly stored or misused gun found in the home resulting in injury or death” (Bradyunited.org)

The majority of lawmakers in Washington want to send us backwards.

“For the past 30 years, Republican lawmakers have dutifully filed the same bill to let people carry concealed guns in all 50 states, regardless of each state’s permitting standards. Sometimes they submitted the same bill twice in one session.

So far in 2025, House and Senate Republicans have introduced at least 26 bills aimed at loosening federal gun laws, according to an analysis by The Trace. Three bills in the House seek to reform the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), while two bills call for its elimination — legislation that’s been introduced four times before. Three bills in the House and two bills in the Senate seek to remove silencers from the National Firearms Act. One House bill seeks to repeal the National Firearms Act altogether.” (The Trace)

Another school shooting. We lower the flag. We support the grieving. But isn’t that all of us now? Isn’t your heart broken? Haven’t we lost enough children to “Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground” and heed the Prince’s warning? 

Despite the seemingly endless uphill battle, there are organization dedicated to preventing future gun violence. Some of the largest groups working to end this epidemic are: Brady United. Everytown for Gun Safety. Sandy Hook Promise. Moms Demand Action. We could send money. Donate our time. If we really want our children safe, how about if we really do everything to keep our children safe? Let’s demand our duly-elected and well-paid politicians do too.