On Tuesday, at least 19 children and two teachers were killed when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. It was the 212th mass shooting and the 27th school shooting of 2022; it was the 144th day of this year.
It’s been 23 years since Columbine, 10 years since Sandy Hook, five days since the last school shooting before Uvalde. It feels like so much time has passed, and yet nothing has changed. I, like millions of other parents, do not know if it’s safe to send my children to school or other extracurricular activities.
I’m angry. I’m terrified. I’m overwrought with grief. I am numb.
If you are also feeling helpless, you are not alone. Read on for what you can do to help.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones
It’s not just about gun violence
It’s tempting to make Uvalde and other mass shootings just about gun control and violence prevention, except the actual discussion is extremely nuanced and complicated and rooted in patriarchy and white supremacy. For instance, what developmental issues bring a person to commit such an act of brutality? What in our society and its attitudes about mental health, race, gender, and masculinity contribute to violence? How do we prevent gun violence at an individual, community, and legislative level?
Educate yourself
This seems like such a canned talking point, but it really is so vital. For example, a common response to mass shootings is to lobby for more robust screening and gun ownership restrictions.
But that’s not as easy as it sounds. Our country has a long, frustrating history with gun reform, with major gun-control legislation repeatedly being blocked by members of Congress. Although the vast majority of Americans support more stringent laws, experts are skeptical we’ll be seeing real change anytime soon. “…it’s highly unlikely that the massacre of at least 19 schoolchildren and two adults in Uvalde, Texas, yesterday, or President Joe Biden’s emotional plea for action last night, will result in legislative action,” political analyst Ronald Brownstein wrote for The Atlantic.
However, these issues are complicated. That’s why it’s important to invest your time and resources into educating yourself.
