In The Wake of Uvalde, What Should We Do?

The following article will focus on mass shootings in American schools and how best to deter them.

Any human with a heart was undoubtedly shocked by what transpired at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24th, 2022.

Nineteen students and two teachers were murdered in cold blood.

The assailant, whose name I will not mention, was gunned down by an off-duty Border Patrol officer.

One act by a mentally unstable offender brought the world to a screeching halt.

As days pass since the shocking event, the public outcry has been deafening and warranted.

Americans are demanding change.

The trumpeting for reform to American gun laws has reached an all-time high.

Our youth was murdered while attending school. Say that aloud a few times, and only then does it begin to register.

But does banning assault rifles really change things for the better?

Individuals with left-leaning political views seem to think so.

This contention seems logical, specifically in the wake of the Uvalde tragedy.

Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde; where does it end? Fair question regardless of your political views.

But ask yourself; does the round-up of certain assault rifles set a dangerous precedent?

Does seizing one type of weapon, pave the way for the banishment of more firearms?

Concede blindly to Draconian governments and your freedom disappears into thin air.

The proverbial slippery slope.

Advocates of The Second Amendment say ‘absolutely’ without batting an eyelash. They believe sovereign Americans have a God-Given right to keep and bear arms.

I believe that before calling for sweeping gun reform, there are other, more linear courses of action to take.

Why do we fortify our homes but fail to do the same to our schools?

Reports surfaced that the gunman in Uvalde gained access to Ross Elementary through an unlocked backdoor.

As a parent-to-be, I shudder at this.

Frequent most schools in the U.S., and you will experience something similar. This past winter, I visited family members in Nevada.

On more than one occasion, I drove my teenage nephew to school. Each time, I marvelled at how vulnerable and wide-open his high school was.

Leading to my next suggestion; the need for armed guards at our schools.

Hiring expert marksmen to patrol our schools will instill a sense of security that has been lacking for some time now.

A sure-fire way to stop bad guys with guns is with good guys with guns.

Just look at the border patrol agent in Uvalde. Without his call to action, casualties would have been even worse.

Societies are judged by how they treat their most vulnerable. Times have changed, and so must we.

Protecting our youth is paramount, but I contend it is possible without undermining The Constitution.

One positive, if any, out of the traumatic Uvalde experience is difficult conversations are taking place.

Americans are sitting down with one another and searching for solutions.

Some will balk at my suggestions.

This is okay. The discourse goes hand in hand with democracy.

As long as the welfare of our youth is the driving force behind these conversations, the outcome will be positive.

By working together, we can foster a world where our most vulnerable are protected without trampling on civil liberties.

Is change necessary? Absolutely.

But not at the expense of the very fabric that makes America the one last democracy standing today.

May God Bless the victims of Ross Elementary School and all those affected.