

Opinion: Gun violence incites fear in schools

Letter to the editor

Gun violence incites fear in schools

The acceleration of gun violence in this country is accompanied by imminent fear and calamity. During my second year at South Burlington High School, as a Junior, I experienced a successive execution of lockdowns and hideouts in a science closet along with my classmates.

Day after day we returned to school, bearing expectations that safety would be restored.

Sadly, the days seemed to replicate themselves and lockdowns were ordered again. Finally, realization struck that despite the feelings of familiarity and innocence created by school, it is not immune to the injustice of violence.

Our lockdowns and the fear that accompanies them were triggered by targeted death threats, and not active violence. I can not imagine the magnitude of horror that consumes victims who experience gun violence.

Common sense gun laws are the solution that can help to alleviate fear and make our schools and other public places safe again. These laws will limit and deny access to firearms to unsuitable and unfit individuals. Stricter gun control measures have been proven to decrease the rates of firearm homicides, suicides and mass murders.

Ultimately, gun laws serve to restore and preserve security and will save Vermonters lives. I urge the Legislature to take action and pass all of the gun legislation currently before them, including universal background checks.


South Burlington