Gun violence should not be a seemingly unavoidable reality in our lives. Yet, in today’s world, school shootings, mass shootings and other acts of gun-related crime have left communities across the United States and the globe devastated, wanting answers to when all of this will end. While debates on gun rights are extremely polarized, one reality remains clear: gun violence continues to take lives and shatters a sense of safety within our country. When the future remains unclear for how gun violence will continue to impact society, it becomes even more urgent to take action while prioritizing a sense of belonging. 

In schools, neighborhoods and public spaces, people question how long the issue of gun violence can be ignored. For students, especially, gun violence is no longer something that feels distant, but rather a constant fear. School should be a place of growth and learning and stress about tests, not a source of anxiety and distress about a possible shooting. 

School most certainly should not be a place where students worry about survival, thinking about escape plans if something were to happen. At ARHS, measures are in place to keep students secure, ensuring that they can concentrate on their passions and their futures, rather than fear for their safety. Still, even generally safe spaces can have their risks, especially if people stay silent about their fears or feel isolated. 

Although talking about gun violence is uncomfortable and sometimes controversial, staying silent has never made progress. Addressing this issue means implementing safe spaces for students to share their thoughts, whether that be anonymously or not, and emphasizing the importance of empathy. It also means that students must take the initiative to use their voices. That may mean attending protests, writing to politicians, expressing their concerns to administrators, or even making an effort to truly understand their peers.

Small gestures, like checking in on a classmate or reaching out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, can make a profound difference, helping someone feel supported. Promoting a sense of belonging, where every student feels safe to express themselves, is key to cultivating not only an environment where students feel comfortable expressing their fears, but also where they may be less likely to turn to violence in the first place.

Gun violence impacts everyone, and its impacts ripple much further than the moment a trigger is pulled. Every life lost is someone’s child, someone who had a whole life ahead of them filled with opportunities and growth, someone whose future was stolen from them. 

Working together is the first step toward making a difference, and that can be done by organizing activities focusing on unifying and bringing together the student body. Events like Pep Rally and Carnival serve as a foundation for bringing together a group of diverse individuals, but alone, they will not stop gun violence. In a time when the world is already filled with fear, the most important step is for all members of the school community to concentrate on compassion, where safety and understanding is prioritized over simply creating an enjoyable experience. By combining the importance of connection and action, students can learn how to maintain meaningful relationships and ask for help when needed. 

Students, teachers and leaders alike must raise their voices about gun violence, whether that means reporting threats, supporting one another or demanding meaningful change. Safety isn’t just a nice thing to have; it’s a necessity. Society must prioritize protective measures and cultivate communities that focus on empathy. Together, we can build a future where schools are truly safe and where fear doesn’t overshadow learning.