Did we sign up for this? Have I deceived my children by entrusting them to those who are incapable of keeping them safe? Did we send our kids to school only for them to be harmed? Are schools no longer a place where children can feel safe? Is it viable for me to educate my children at home?
These are some of the questions that may come to parents' minds in the aftermath of a school shooting. My heartfelt condolences to the 21 individuals who died in the school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, May 24th. According to reports, this is the second deadliest school shooting in the United States after the Sandy Hook Elementary School incident in Newton, Connecticut in 2012. This is the 27th school shooting this year, and it's horrible that these tragedies are becoming so prevalent. Gun violence continues to spiral out of control, and no change appears to be on the horizon.
In instances like this, who is to blame? Is it the government or the ineffective gun control laws that make weapons more accessible? Young people appear to be getting their hands on firearms as if they were a pair of sneakers.
Is it the parents' fault that they aren't paying attention to their children? Parents who appear to be aware that something is wrong but turn the other cheek. Is it the fault of parents for not properly loving, supporting, and raising their children? Is it true that too many parents ignore their children, leaving them prone to becoming victims themselves or victims of others? What can we do to guarantee that parents are well and involved in their children's lives?
Is it social media, and how it frequently possesses the minds of our youth? Although convenient and cost-effective, social media has been harming youngsters for years, forcing them to incriminate themselves, lose respect for themselves, and spread misinformation that has tainted their innocent minds. Is it a shortage of mental health services or a lack of care? We recognize that the stigma associated with mental illnesses persists, and that it will take a village to overcome it. Is it the pandemic that has exacerbated the already existing problems with mental health? Many people, specifically children, have had mental health issues that have gotten worse since the pandemic. Many people have become disconnected from reality as a result of the lockdown, and the shooters in both recent shootings have mentioned social media and being under lockdown at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although it is important to understand that the majority of people suffering from mental illness are not violent, mental health treatment can often avoid gun violence in those who are at risk of violence due to mental illness, suicidal thoughts, or feelings of desperation. A national priority should be policies and services that detect and treat all people suffering from mental illness. The existing level of access to mental health care in the United States requires immediate attention.
What else needs to happen to bring this to an end? When will America's people say, "Enough is enough?" We've heard about change before, but nothing has changed; should we accept that nothing will ever change, or should we try to bring about change ourselves? It's something to consider, and it requires immediate action. I'd like to express my condolences to the families of those who have died, as well as others who have been touched by this tragedy. I send my prayers to all of God's children, and I sincerely hope that one day, the world will be a better place for all of us, and that we will learn to love and care for one another.
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