It is time for America to act.
Gun violence has rattled our nation’s schools for too long. We here at the Daily Beacon now raise our editorial voice and call upon the United States: Stand up and protect our places of education from the threat that firearms can bring.
It’s a frightening time to attend school in the United States. Since the beginning of this fall semester, attacks on elementary schools, high schools and college campuses alike have plagued our nation’s young people. Public, private, land-grant — none have been spared from acts of violence.
The political temperature in America is rising, and with the increase in heat, we are seeing an increase in the speed at which people turn to weapons to make themselves heard or to silence others.
In Tennessee, a new law requiring children to learn about gun safety went into effect this year. It’s a chilling thought — little kids, some as young as 4 or 5 years old, are now being taught about firearms and what to do if one shows up at the place they’re being educated in.
Little children sitting in school should not be faced with the possibility of their lives being taken in an instant by another human being. Universities should not have to lock down buildings because someone calls in a hoax threat. Students should not have to witness someone being killed by gunfire on a public lawn. Parents should not be afraid to send their children to learn in the morning.
At UT, we are fortunate to have seen a quick and efficient response by our university police department to the Hodges Library swatting incident. The Daily Beacon spoke with campus safety expertS. Daniel Carter recently, and he said UTPD’s resources are some of the best he’s ever seen. As reassuring as that information is, it is critical for our university to be transparent in how they approach emergencies and safety concerns on campus. We are grateful for how Public Information Officer Ryan Moore has assisted us over the past few weeks as we have provided our community with answers.
Changing the culture around gun violence in schools is an uphill climb, and beginning this conversation is only the first step. We do not have all the answers — no one does — but by continuing to speak on these issues, maybe we can finally be released from our new “normal.” Return us to the days when children were free to be children. Education can only suffer under the epidemic of gun violence — imagine the freedom we would find if the threat were removed.
Our nation’s youth are losing hope as the system fails us again and again. America cannot continue down this dark and twisted road. Violence is not the answer.
Today, we ask you: what will you do to fight gun violence in schools?
This editorial represents the viewpoint of Caden Dyer, Editor-in-Chief, Ansley Graves, Managing Editor, Patrick Busch, News Editor, Emma Caskill, Arts & Culture Editor, Jackson Clavier, Photo Editor, Lindsay Favre, Design Editor, Sarah Portanka, Engagement Editor, and Sophie Mehta, Audience Development Editor, on The Daily Beacon’s editorial team.
