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There is no way around the startling fact that school shootings are becoming more common in society here in America. These shootings are happening all over and in towns where no one could see them coming. According to TIME magazine, “Since 2013 there have been 300 school shootings in America.” That is an average of one a week and it’s not only on high school grounds. College campuses have been affected by gun violence as well. With the government having trouble finding a solution to please both sides of the gun law debate, it leads one to think “are we safe here at Grand View? What would happen if someone did bring a gun a campus? Are we prepared for the possibility of an incident at any time?”

With a majority of shootings happening in high schools, maybe we can learn what high schools in Iowa are doing to protect their students in the wake of these school shootings.

“It is a really sad time in America right now, and all these shootings have made myself question if we (Newton) are doing enough to protect the students,” Newton Senior High School principal Bill Peters said.

Peters said they have put new lockdown buttons in all classrooms and gyms to improve their security. They have also put in place a school incident drill in case a gun was on school grounds.

As a gun owner himself, Peters said the National Rifle Association (NRA) isn’t all to blame but they need to do more.

“I am a gun owner and believe in my rights, but I am not afraid of changes to laws,” Peters said. “I am tired of seeing stories of school shootings especially being a principle. The NRA and government need to come to a solution to solve this issue before more lives are lost.”

Some politicians have proposed arming teachers as a possible solution to the problem.

“I don’t believe arming the teachers is a good idea,” Peters said. “Teaching them how to defend and how to respond in these events is the smartest thing we can do. Teachers are humans too.”

Peters and administrators throughout the country have felt pressure from the community and students to keep the kids safe.

“Student Safety is the biggest responsibility in my job and I take it very seriously and want to do all I can to prevent this from ever happening,” Peters said.

Students around Grand View have spoken out and voiced their opinions of gun violence.

“It’s assuring to hear that things are being done not just nationally, but locally too,” Grand View student Kemaad Jones said. Now as for here, a lot of students don’t know what they would do if a shooting took place, and surprisingly a lot of Grand View students don’t feel the security guards are equipped enough or even trained well enough to protect the college students. At some point, we have to hold the president and government more accountable to find a solution to keep school a safe haven as it should be.

President Trump has echoed this sentiment on occasion.

“No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school,” he tweeted in response to the Parkland, Florida shooting in which 17 students lost their lives.

School shootings

The Parkland students have taken the lead to press the government to make changes. With the “Never Again Campaign” and the “March of our Lives” being such an impactful outcome from the shooting, it has made this a common issue with many Americans.

All kids, high schoolers and college students, want a safe and secure place to go to school. They never want to have to worry about if today will be the last day they go to school or see a friend. Des Moines is safe place with many great schools and colleges, but that doesn’t mean we are susceptible to a school shooting happening. With the rise in school shootings going up every year, who is to blame you for questioning your own safety here at Grand View?

With new lockdown buttons in place in all the classrooms on campus, 24-hour security and key access to all dorms, Grand View is far ahead of a lot of security when it comes to those means.

With the “No More Movement” being a big voice for those pushing for more gun laws and safety for schools, there is not much more we can do but vote for those who take students and young kids safety seriously. College students and young adults along with high school students all across the nation are the future of this great country and they deserve the protection they need.