Active Shooter Drills

Mass shootings are not a new thing and are only becoming more frequent. In 2020 alone, there were more than 600 mass shootings across the country. Moreover, since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, there have been more than 300 school shootings. This number does not even include misfires and stopped attempts. More than 300,000 kids have experienced violence and danger at their schools related to guns since Columbine High School. And while that number may not seem like a lot compared to the estimated 40 million kids in school in the U.S. right now, it‘s equivalent to almost a third of the population of Rhode Island being terrorized and experiencing some sort of violence. Not every kid has experienced gun violence in their school, but almost every child has now experienced an active shooter drill. Active shooter drills have the good intention of protecting kids and preparing them for the worst possible situation. But they are causing anxiety and fear in children. security and administration would go around and bang and scream at the doors during my middle school years. Many times, even the teachers did not know that it was a drill. A kid once texted his mom during the drill and ended up getting a suspension for it. This practice gave kids in that school fear of contacting our family during a drill to tell them that we were not dead. Some schools across the country fire blank rounds during drills and hire kids in the school to play injured or dead students. Exiting students see their fellow students lying on the floor as if dead. Seeing classmates and friends lying on the ground during a drill that many believe is real, leaves trauma. Students that are in the school system for their entire K-12 education, will experience roughly 115 to 130 active shooter drills during that time period. This causes a level of both stress and numbness that can leave the entire current generation feeling as if school shootings are normal. School shooting drills have been linked to over a 30% increase of both anxiety and depression. -

This article was written by 15 year old in high school who is experiencing trauma from active shooter drills. Students are having anxiety from wondering if they will be next. Parents are having anxiety from wondering will their children make it home from school. Active shooter drills are causing anxiety, fear, and PTSD for children and parents. When we were in school the only drills we had were fire drills and tornado drills. Natural life disasters are uncontrollable but predictable. Active shooters are something that can be prevented and should be. Our children, our future, is in danger. Our children should be enjoying life and having fun. They shouldn't have to worry about things like this. Now they are being treated like the hunted for no reason.