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By Kendall Westgate, WestgateK@Findlay.edu
According to statistica.com, the United States had experienced 35 incidents of school shootings. Wednesday, Sept. 4, another one was added to the list. This time in Winder, Georgia.
Two students and two teachers were killed in the shooting at Apalachee High School with nine others injured. The 14-year-old suspect, Colt Gray, surrendered immediately and was taken into custody.
“It’s not scary anymore. You see it all the time,” senior Lydia Schafer said. “For me, it’s scary but it’s almost surreal because you see it everywhere. But I haven’t been in a school where it’s been super close.”
Media reports say Colt Gray received his gun as a gift from his father. Colt Gray was charged with four counts of murder, while his father, Colin Gray, was arrested on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. UF students wonder how someone like Gray could think of putting people through this travesty.
“I guess it just makes me upset that people actually think like that. I don’t understand what goes through people’s brains when they think, ‘Oh, let’s just go to like so-and-so and shoot that place up’,” freshman Emily Bouck said. “I guess I don’t really understand what goes through their brain to think that it’s a good idea. Why would you do something like that? I feel so bad for those families. Even if their kid didn’t get hurt, still their kid had to go through that situation.”
Others also remember their schooling being safer when they were younger.
“I’d say it’s devastating knowing that at least when I was younger, school was a safer place,” junior Mara Waire said. “Like, I felt safe within the walls, but now it’s a little bit nerve wracking. I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to school knowing that it happens more often.”
With the presidential election coming up in November, this shooting puts the gun debate front and center and could affect how registered voters make their decision.
“It will impact the election,” senior Zoe Wallace said. “I think that people on the edge may be more likely to vote for an anti-gun candidate. It could be just enough to push people to the other side.”
Relating to the election, students noticed the lack of shootings in other countries. This may be the case due to different laws being in place.
“I don’t know if it’s just the way news is broadcast here. I’ve only seen the ones that have happened here,” junior Joe Taylor III said. “I don’t see it happening in other countries.”
With the shootings increasing, the way students and teaching faculty undergo safety drills also changed.
“I remember doing shooter preparedness drills in first grade, but they changed them drastically once we hit about fourth grade,” sophomore Kayla Niese said. “I remember doing it in first grade and they told us to hide. We were supposed to turn all the lights off and hide. Then, in fifth grade they changed it to barricade the doors, if it got to that point we were supposed to either fight or run.”
Yet, most students still feel protected at the University of Findlay, due to the safety precautions UF takes.
“I think Findlay protects our campus through of course banning guns, having those blue emergency lights and having a heavy security presence,” Wallace said. “But also, by constantly offering mental health services and doing their best to check in with students.”
UF Counseling Services is located at 307 Frazer Street.
