On December 14, 2012, a tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School claimed the lives of 20 innocent children. Since that day, gun violence has continued to take a heavy toll, with 338 mass shootings reported in just the year 2017 alone. In the aftermath of Sandy Hook, many believed this heartbreaking event would prompt significant reforms in gun control. Unfortunately, we were mistaken.
As mothers, we are utterly exhausted. Exhausted from the relentless cycle of hearing about innocent lives lost in moments of terror, followed by the all-too-familiar platitudes of thoughts and prayers, and a call to action that never materializes. Every few months, we find ourselves back at square one, vowing to push for change, only to see no results.
I’m fed up with being a young mom of two beautiful children who should be enjoying their childhood in what we often call “the greatest country on earth.” Instead, I live with a constant undercurrent of anxiety every time I send them off to school, terrified that today could be the day an unstable individual walks onto their campus with a weapon.
I’m weary of listening to my kids casually describe the active shooter drills that have become a routine part of their education. My little ones understand that to survive a potential attack, they must huddle in a dark classroom and remain silent until the threat passes. They know the drill: don’t touch a gun if one is left nearby, follow the teacher’s instructions, and be as quiet as possible to ensure they come home to me and their dad.
Our children are being trained for a battle, America. Is this really the “land of the free” we cherish? A place where even our youngest citizens cannot learn basic skills without preparing for the possibility of an armed intruder? This is what those who cling to their firearms and invoke Second Amendment rights deem acceptable?
But let’s not forget another fundamental right we possess as Americans: the right to live. The laws that allow individuals to amass weapons, while our children and fellow citizens fall victim to senseless violence, undermine that very right. What is so great about a nation filled with fearful citizens? Parents who cannot guarantee their children will return home safely from school? Who must weigh the risks before taking their kids to a movie or concert, constantly anxious about whether they might be the next names we mourn?
I invite you to challenge me. Go ahead and tell me that politics should be left out of motherhood. Explain why we should ignore the actions of heartless politicians who are beholden to gun lobbies, ensuring that dangerous individuals can easily access firearms. Why should we dismiss these concerns and focus on mundane topics like strollers and feeding schedules when our kids’ lives are at stake?
Because I assure you, I would much rather discuss those topics than hear my children recount how they practiced quietly filing into their classroom’s bathroom, where the youngest must stand on the toilet while the teacher crouches by the door, reminding them to be silent to stay safe. Why is anyone willing to accept this as the new normal? Why don’t our kids deserve better? I genuinely cannot understand it. With tears in my eyes, overwhelmed by the horror of our latest national tragedy, I plead for answers.
Call me overly dramatic, but a mother shopping for snacks with her children shouldn’t have to plot her escape route the moment she steps inside the store. She shouldn’t have to live in quiet panic throughout the school day. This isn’t how we envisioned modern parenting; it’s not the childhood we dreamed of for our kids.
We never thought we would be raising our children in a war zone. It’s time to prioritize our children’s safety over our obsession with guns. We are weary—how could we not be? If the tragic deaths of 20 children in an elementary school haven’t spurred our nation to value kids over firearms, then what will?
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In summary, we need to confront the harsh realities of gun violence and the impact it has on our children. As parents, our top priority should be ensuring their safety and well-being, rather than allowing outdated laws and political agendas to dictate our children’s futures.