When Does It End?!: A Call for Justice, Safety and Healing in Our Communities

"Breaking News: There’s been a mass shooting at a high school in Georgia. Four people have been killed, and at least nine others are injured."

Ugh. Here we go. AGAIN.

With the recent school shooting in Georgia and the ongoing gun violence in our country, I can't stay quiet. It's heartbreaking to see young people living in fear and becoming numb to the violence around them.

However, this isn’t just a political issue; it’s a "heart issue." I am a Christian, so I look to God's word for strength, wisdom and comfort. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that the heart can be deceptive, while Psalm 147:3 gives us hope for healing. A lot of the violence we’re seeing comes from deep unresolved issues—whether it’s trauma, negative "isms", mental health problems, and the list goes on—and it needs a compassionate response.

Please note that I’m not here to debate gun laws or the Second Amendment. Right now, we need to focus on keeping our kids safe. The fact is that every day in America, 12 children and teens die from gun violence, and 32 more are injured.

This shouldn't be the norm.

1 John 4:18 says that love drives out fear, but unfortunately, many kids grow up surrounded by fear. Research shows that children exposed to gun violence often struggle with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. A recent poll found that 57% of teens worry about a shooting at their school. These aren’t just statistics; they represent kids living with constant stress. If I’m feeling frustrated and angry as an adult, I can only imagine how tough it must be for young people dealing with this every day.

We often say children are our future, especially during election season. But we as adults must work to ensure that they grow up in safe communities, schools, and homes.

If we want our youth to lead the future, we need to make sure they survive the present.

Again, I’m not trying to place blame here; I just want to emphasize that keeping our young people safe has to be our country's top priority.

#preventgunviolence #faithinaction #socialjustice #safeschools #safecommunitieis

Sources:

• Unload, Lock, and Separate: Secure Gun Storage Practices to Reduce Violence | Everytown Research & Policy
• Majority of teens worry about school shootings, and so do most parents | Pew Research Center
• 17 Facts About Gun Violence and School Shootings — Sandy Hook Promise
• Gibson, A. (2023). The American Pediatric Gun Violence Epidemic. https://doi.org/10.17615/0xw0-6803