The Sad Truth

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"No, there wasn't. It's been happening everywhere. I've always kind of felt like it would happen here too, so - I don't know, I wasn't surprised, I was just scared."          

 The sad truth is that in can happen here, as my family now knows. Americans need to stop thinking that it won't happen in their town and be mentally prepared for it. We were not. "It can happen here" is the new reality. There have been 22 school shooting in the past 20 weeks.

On April 20th, my wife and I were perchance driving past our son's high school in Ocala, Florida when suddenly SWAT teams, ambulances, and fire trucks raced onto the school grounds.

I can't find the words to describe our terror at that moment.

Fortunately, only one student was wounded, and the troubled former student shooter was talked down by a very brave teacher. Within three minutes, the school resource officer arrived and arrested the boy.

The school and local law enforcement immediately posted the all clear via text message to parents and students. It was over.

Except it is not over. Even now when we drive by the school, I see all of the emergency lights. I hear the sirens. I see the SWAT teams suiting up. Maybe this will stop. But...

It will never stop for the parents and students at schools like Parkland, Santa Fe, Sandy Hook, and Columbine who lost children.

So, Moms and Dads, I urge you press your local school officials to adopt procedures that reflect the reality of "it can happen here".

It has become obvious that nothing will happen at the federal level as long as the NRA rules Washington, D.C.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 20, 2018 at 10:30 AM

    I am deeply sorry that your family had to go through this, as well as deeply grateful your children are safe. Thank you so much for your contribution!

    ReplyDelete

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