Mass shootings have unfortunately become an all-too-common reality — a problem that’s seen its own cottage industry of safety solutions . Since change, either from a societal or lawmaking standpoint, doesn’t seem to be imminent, this is the unfortunate reality we’re all dealing with.
A teacher recently shared some of the safeguards in her classroom to protect against potential shooters, in a clip that’s since gone viral.
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Schools are often a target for mass shootings.
Some of the most infamous mass shootings of all time, like the ones that occurred at Columbine High School in 1999 , Virginia Tech University in 2007 , or Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 , have taken place at educational institutions.
Are school shootings on the rise?
With almost five full months left in the year, there have been an astounding 337 mass shootings that have taken place in the United States so far in 2022. Somewhat surprisingly, only three of these have taken place at a school or university.
A teacher shared this video on TikTok.
TikToker Madi (@notsocoolmads) has a modest TikTok following, usually getting a few thousand views per video. But this short video, in which she showed the new safeguards installed on her classroom door, has a whopping 4.6 million views.
A sturdy lock was installed on the door.
We’ve seen safety measures like smoke detectors and fire alarms in classrooms for generations, but installing barricades on doors in case of an active shooter? That’s definitely a new one. It’s what Madi found when she walked back into the classroom to start the school year.
The comments section was a bit of a circus.
Because the gun control debate is a passionate one, there wasn’t much common ground in the comments. One side thought it was sad that kids are at risk of getting shot, while the other defended their right to bear arms at all costs.
The safety measure itself isn’t the issue.
It’s just a barricade on a door, and will surely come in handy if there is an active shooter situation. In a vacuum, it’s just a barricade. But in the wider context, it’s a symptom of a huge societal problem.
Madi went into more detail in a follow-up video.
The video has racked up nearly 80,000 views so far, and in it, Madi explains why she thinks the barricade is indicative of a sad state of affairs. She makes her point quite bluntly: better gun control is ultimately the solution.
The barricade is a half-measure installed under the assumption that mass shootings are just a fact of life that we’ll all have to learn to live with.
Teachers have a tough job.
Often overworked and underpaid, teachers bear the brunt of not just educating kids, but also keeping them safe in the event of a mass shooting — all while being criticized from the sidelines by people who think they know better.
What are your thoughts?
First, check out the original video to get an idea of what Madi’s talking about. Then, let us know what you think. Is there an answer to the gun violence problem in the United States? If so, what is it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
