April 20, 1999: 12 students and one teacher dead. The Columbine shooting has undoubtedly gone down as one of the worst – and most infamous – school shootings in history.  

As it nears the 20th anniversary of this horrific event, students, parents and school teachers alike take the time to honor the memory of the thirteen that died that day – and to make sure things like this stop happening in the future. 

As much as I wish I could say the United States government has done an effective job at keeping up with said standard, an obscene number of shootings have taken place since the massacre at Columbine. Sandy Hook Elementary School, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida– these are only three of the disheartening number of gun-related massacres taking place in the 2000s. 

Speaking as a student, a daughter, and a friend of those affected by gun violence: This must stop. It’s not a matter of left-wing, right-wing or anywhere in between; it’s a matter of people’s lives at hand and basic human morals.  

Increasing school security since Columbine has been a step in the right direction, but even then, law enforcement must put in more of an effort to seek out possible perpetrators. For example, in the case of the Parkland shooting, numerous students made attempts to report the eventual shooter for criminal activity – none of which were taken seriously or followed up on to a good enough extent. 

Even aside from that, the problem isn’t with the schools for failing to notice potential “problem children.” It runs much deeper than that, beginning with America’s obsessive desire with wielding guns and the right to self-protect.  

Going off that, the Florida legislature as of Wednesday, May 1 has passed a bill allowing teachers to wield guns in school after proceeding through a 144-hour training course. The Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent, Jeff Eakins, released a statement saying Hillsborough teachers will not be armed, so it likely won’t affect our school; However, the idea alone of teachers carrying guns should be concerning. 

I don’t think there is a solution as simple as taking away everyone’s guns, because, as heavenly as that sounds, it’s unrealistic. Rather, I think it is up to the government to place a tighter grip on the regulation of arms dealing – and on top of that, it’s up to parents to keep guns out of reach of children. 

My father enjoys hunting for sport (much to the dismay of my sad vegan heart) and has since before I was born. Because of this, I have grown up knowing there are multiple guns in my house since a young age. Knowing my father’s character makes it easier to deal with this, and even understand the appeal of feeling more protected with arms in the house. 

It’s not an absurd idea to improve gun dealing regulations. The claim that people can walk into a Walmart and come out with a brand-new gun isn’t entirely wrong. It’s obvious to anyone that has a shred of common sense that some sort of reform needs to be done; Maybe if there was, all those victims would still be alive: Columbine, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, Parkland. 

Even if that bit is just wishful thinking, increasing school security isn’t enough, that much is obvious – it won’t always be an outsider attempting to massacre children, as evident by the Columbine shooting being perpetrated by two students. It should not be placed on teachers to be kids’ personal therapists or to keep an eye out for the mentally ill.  

Gun control is never an easy topic to discuss, especially in an era where our nation is so vastly polarized. There’s no simple answer to solve the deaths that keep happening and those that will happen if action is not taken. However, taking the time to reflect on the past is a start.  

On April 20, the 20th anniversary of the Columbine shooting where 12 students and one teacher were killed, we have a duty to speak our minds in place of all those victims who can’t. Enough is enough. As the next generation of Americans, it is up to us to consider the past a lesson and move forward with our future.  

On that note, here’s to a brighter future, so long as we make our voices heard.