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By Jayden Branam
School/ sku:l/ noun: an institution for the teaching of children. Synonym: academy. Antonym: place of war.
Wednesday morning the lives of two students and two teachers were claimed by violence. The news will tell you that a gunman entered Apalachee High School, killing four and injuring an additional nine. I prefer the term child. In 2024 alone, there have been over 30 school shootings in the United States. We cry for the lives lost and yet continue to watch them bleed. I can't help but wonder how many more of us must die before our lives are deemed worthy of saving. How many more children must become murderers?
Colt Gray is fourteen. He was brought up in a neglectful home frequently visited by both police and child services. He is a victim of abuse and a product of our broken system. He is now a killer. Colt is facing four counts of felony murder and is expected to be tried as an adult. His father, Colin Gray, is now being charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children. The gun used in this shooting was allegedly gifted to Colt by his father in 2023. In no case scenario should a child have access to such a weapon of destruction.
Cristina Irimie was said to have a gift with young people. Since immigrating from Romania, Mrs. Irimie has dedicated her life to educating the youth. Although unable to have kids of her own, she treated her students with unmatched motherly love. She was a beloved math teacher, a dancer, and a wife. On September 4th, she was robbed of her future. Richard Aspinwall was a devoted teacher, football coach, and father. He was known for his uplifting nature and for showering his young daughters with kisses during halftimes. Due to gun violence, he will never see his daughters grow old. Mason Schermerhorn was an optimistic teenager who spent his time reading, telling jokes, and playing video games. He was anticipating his family's planned vacation to Disney World with the utmost excitement. Our government failed to protect him. Christian Angulo was loved by many. He was known not only to be a great kid but a great brother. There is nothing that will ease the pain brought forth by his passing.
We see stories like this too often, and it’s only a matter of time before they become personal. How long until it's our school on the news and our students dying? We cannot disregard mental health while prioritizing assault rifles any longer. We must demand change. We must be the change.
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