Why is gun violence taken so lightly? Maybe because it’s so ubiquitous.

According to Stanford Research Department, by the time students graduate elementary school, the media has pounded about 3,000 murders by guns into their heads.

The incident that took place here at White Station was a serious issue, but because people are so numb to gun violence, it was taken lightly. What is being misunderstood is that the gun could actually be a catalyst; it will lead to violent events such as school shootings and accidental firings.

I witnessed our school not take the matter seriously when they reacted with metal detectors. The detection took less than thirty seconds and not everyone was searched; moreover, to decide who went through the detectors they counted by ten. I understand that time is of the essence, but more thorough searches could be enacted.

Makaree Lomax (11) said, “Gun violence is probably taken so lightly because school shootings are becoming more and more common.”

This thinking isn’t just Lomax’s, it’s most students’ in America. In addition, according to Fact Check, there have been over seventy four school shootings since the Sandy Hooks shooting in 2012. So why not just brush it off?

“I don’t even think guns should be legal, let alone be so easily accessible to people our age,” Lomax said.

If people were more aware and more willing to take action, then progress might be achieved. Instead, we just glance at the murderous news stories and shootings taking place around us.

“When the school issued the letters during seventh period about the gun incident, I didn’t read it. I left that up to my mom,” Lomax said. Letters and news stories are not the way to reach our generation. If we want anything done about gun violence we will have to tackle it through Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

What will it take for us to realize the danger? Does your friend need to be shot before you inform yourself about the seriousness of the situation? Or will it take our school being in more danger than a frightened boy with a gun for protection?