#stephrants

Wake up, America. Stop getting bogged down on whether this is SOLELY about gun control, a terrorist issue, mental health issue, political issue, or if it is caused by violence in video games, movies, TV, etc.  Stop crying out about how statistics are misleading or incorrect.  Name ONE other civilized country in the world with the amount and frequency of school and/or mass shootings that is on the same level as the United States (and isn’t due to war or civil unrest).

Regardless of the reasons that cause it, this is a uniquely United-States-problem.  This is a NORM of the “greatest country on earth.”  Which this begs the question – what gives us the right to call ourselves great if we don’t even know how or try to keep our children and educators safe? Teaching is not inherently a dangerous profession.  Teachers are not police officers who have to confront criminals.  They are not firefighters who have to risk their physical bodies to rescue people from burning buildings.  They are not construction workers who have to wear safety harnesses when working on scaffolding or elevators.  They are educators of minors and young adults - individuals who deserve a safe environment to learn and socialize and grow into the future of tomorrow.  Regardless of your views on WHAT causes this problem in the US, you need to acknowledge it. You need to agree that this happens, and too often, and that it needs to stop.  If you cannot get on board with that simple notion, you do not deserve to be here.  You do not deserve to have a voice.  You do not deserve to benefit from the public school system in this country.  You do not deserve to have children of your own. You do not deserve the air that you breathe in every day.

Regardless of the reasons for what causes the incredible number of school and mass shootings in this country, and regardless of the solution to stopping them, we all need to WAKE UP and acknowledge this is an issue.