One mass shooting has occurred each day since the beginning of 2019; it’s not helping anyone stay safe in this country: “As of November 17, which is the 321st day of the year, there have been 369 mass shootings in the U.S.” 

There have been too many shootings this year and it’s getting out of hand. By comparing the number of mass shootings in 2019 to 2014, there is a big difference (2014: 269; 2019: 337); and, the number range for the other years fall into 300. 

Some of the mass shootings this year were:

• May 31, 2019 – Virginia Beach, VA: 12 dead, 4 wounded
• August 3, 2019 – Walmart in El Paso, TX: 22 dead, 24 wounded (deadliest shooting in 2019)
• August 4, 2019 – Dayton, Ohio: 9 dead, 27 wounded

On November 14, 2019, at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, two students died and three were wounded, including the shooter, in which he shot himself. The list goes on. 

The number of deaths keeps increasing; it’s scary that there’s people that could have had a future, but instead, they’re taken by some heartless person. As a student, it’s hard to go to school with the thought that other schools are being shot at and being afraid that it might happen at my own school. The number of students being killed is increasing. It has to stop.

People have to live in fear while in public, never knowing when someone could strike at any moment. “There have been 408 deaths from mass shootings alone since January, according to the GVA.” There’s been more deaths by gun violence than days in a year.

Just the thought of hearing a gunshot near you is terrifying and for those whose been in a shooting, it’s traumatizing. No one deserves to be in that type of situation, not knowing what to do in the moment. Imagine sitting there, hopeless. 

Senior Ximena Morales stated, “Most shooters are white and [news] are always saying they have mental illnesses. [After getting caught], they don’t fully go to jail, but go to a hospital and ‘live there.” Morales believes that white people that commit a crime (shootings) don’t get the consequence that they deserve. 

Most people get angry with the fact that news reporters say these shooters have mental illness; whereas when it comes to a colored person, they suffer heavier penalties in court, including being put to death. For a white person, the Court gives about a five to ten year sentence or sends them to a mental hospital. 

“We tried almost everything but there is no stopping it. It’s the way people act on what they think is best,” stated sophomore, Xavier Padilla. We can keep on trying to stop these crimes, but they keep coming because people don’t have the heart to see what other people will end up going through.

As a nation, we should try advocating for change and spread positivity. A gun can be easily bought at 18 years, but for legal documents, it’s harder to get and takes up a lot of time and energy. It’s hard living in a world where there’s constant violence and deaths everywhere.

This is our world; learn to be positive with everyone, including yourself.