Time of a ton of tragedy

Tears of parents at Robb Elementary School in Texas, USA after the shooting on May 24 – Photo: Reuters

On May 24, a similar gun massacre occurred at Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas.

The killer who was just underage bought himself all these weapons for his 18th birthday, easier than buying a few cans of beer, because US federal law stipulates that people over the age of 21 are allowed. alcohol consumption.

A decade on, American politics continues to hesitate to make revolutionary decisions about gun safety.

The common characteristics of the perpetrators – men with mental problems and violent obsessions – have directed the solution to this thorny problem to psychological treatment and prevention of school violence. It is impossible not to mention the power of lobbying that makes many gun control bills still just proposals.

American high school students are now no stranger to anti-mass shooting drills. From elementary school, teachers and children have experienced skills such as hiding and blocking, distracting and pretending to be dead.

Even at Robb School, a similar training session a few weeks ago took place; but if it was a good way to deal with crazy gunmen with heavy weapons, it wouldn’t have had a sad ending.

Reuters cites data from a study by the Center for Defense and Homeland Security, which revealed staggering numbers. Only in the first 5 months of the year, there were 137 shootings at high schools across the country, especially at high schools. This number was 249 cases last year.

Shooting news in the US sometimes makes readers feel that it is no different from traffic accident news. But behind each number, there are so many innocent smiles that have forever disappeared, and so many pains that will forever remain with families and communities, deeply ingrained in the heart of America.

The timing of the Texas shootings doesn’t just begin at 11:31 a.m. Tuesday, May 24. It has been around since gun freedom was part of everyday life in this country, with the earliest recorded attack on July 26, 1764. The reality of school shootings has existed for more than a hundred years and has become more and more deep and widespread, a typical black shadow of violence “only in America”.

President Biden recently called on Americans to stand up to pro-gun lobbying and pressured members of Congress to pass sensible gun legislation.

I hope on the positive side, with each tragedy that pummeled one more wake-up call, ringing louder and louder across all 50 states and territories of the United States: that we don’t need guns, we don’t use guns, We don’t allow the random sale of guns and most of all, we absolutely don’t let our children lose their lives when they go to school!

The long and sad story of school shootings may only really end when the American people agree to sacrifice personal freedom to protect children’s lives.