Speak Up and Walk Out
Okay, let's talk for a minute.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" (The Second Amendment, Constitution of the United States of America).
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I have written about this several times on several different mediums. What's important is that the base message stays the same.
Fear should not be part of everyday school life.
For some reason, those born before the Millennial generation don't get that. Perhaps they've spent too long out of school. Perhaps they don't understand the terror that has been instigated by recent events. Or perhaps it is because that they're too stubborn to see the light, or to go back on their old ways. There seems to be a majority of people that think that my generation is too immature or ignorant to understand what is happening.
The idea that a person of my age has no idea what is going on is ludicrous and completely false. You don't think I keep up with the news? You don't think that my peers are watching what's happening in the little bubble that is our home town, and still quaking in fear to think that we could be mowed down if one man decides to snap?
I have an escape route for every classroom. Every single class I’m in I have thought through at least five different scenarios involving an intruding gunman.
If a man comes through the door, I go out the window. If we are higher than I would be able to jump down from safely, then I check and see how far a car is so it will be less of a leap. If there is no window, then there must be another door. If there is no escape, playing dead could work. If I'm the only one in a room. I run. I'm dead, but I'll run.
Listen, this isn’t even about the fact that military grade weapons shouldn’t be available to the public. This is about the fact that every day I go to school I am risking my life. This is about the fact that I and several of my classmates are living in constant fear that our lives will be ended by a maniac.
This is about the fact that I have become skittish in the school hallways; if someone starts running, then my fight-or-flight response kicks in. This is about the fact that I am constantly looking over my shoulder when I hear noises behind me in the hallways. This is about a sick and prickly feeling that is constantly in the back of my mind telling me that my family may never see me again when I head to school for the day. Or anywhere, for that matter.
This is about the fact that school is supposed to be a safe place for adolescents to grow and develop their interests and talents. School should be for knowledge, not a breeding ground for fear.
You should know that your "right" to own a gun is not more important than a human's right to live.
Your "right" to buy a semi-automatic military grade assault weapon from a dark van in a 7-11 parking lot for five bucks and a PB&J is not more important than a parent's security in knowing they will see their child after school.
The second amendment begins with "A well-regulated militia." Where we stand at the moment, nothing involving guns is well-regulated. Many people forget that our Founding Fathers were in a time of war; their army was the militia.
Just because of the ignorance of humans and their misinterpretation of the second amendment, we are in a debate about innocent lives being gunned down.
School shouldn't be an arena that media dogs feed off of. School shouldn't be a type of Hunger Games for the vast public to watch as entertainment. School should be a safe place of learning, not the boss level of a video game.
And if you're one of those absolute numbskulls saying that, "I have kids and I believe everyone should own a gun. I'm not scared," you need to re-evaluate your life.
You think owning guns will keep your kids safe?
No one is safe.
About the Creator
Alicia Treichler
This will end up being a myriad of things. It will be a place for my opinions, a place for my stories, a place for my poems, and an all around dumping ground for my writing.
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