#b.c.

So Canada just had it's 3rd school shooting in 23(?) years in a little town called Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.

Jesse Van Rootselaar (18) shot and killed her mother and brother before killing 6 children, a teacher before turning the gun on herself.

Most of the children were found in the library.

Jesse was a trans woman who started her transition 6 years ago. She dropped out of school 4 years ago. Police have been doing routine mental health check's at Rootselaar’s home on multiple occasions over the last several years in relation to mental-health calls.

The mental health crisis is at a very serious level here in Canada. Support is non-existent unless you have swaths of money. There's even less for queer and trans folks who need LGBTQ specialized therapists and not someone who cannot understand their struggles. It's only worsening and nothing is being done to improve it.

9 have died. Our Prime Minister has cancelled his trip to Europe. He has made statements on social media and, I believe he's planning an official one tomorrow. Gun laws are already quite strict in Canada. This isn't about that. This can only be fixed by providing accessible mental health support both in and out of schools with specialized therapists and practices centering the queer experience.

I cannot stress enough how much this has hurt our entire country. This type of violence isn't normal here. It's not frequent and it's not something we, or our leaders, can ignore. We are hurting. The town of Tumbler Ridge is shattered and Canada itself is in mourning.

Okay. Well.

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Abigail at au @creat0rstudi0 Iacon tower!!

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