On May 24th, 2022, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, an elementary school shooting occured. 18 kids and 1 teacher were killed. 

On April 6th, 2007, at Virgina Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia, a school shooting carried out by Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people. 

On December 14th, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, an elementary school shooting carried out by Adam Lanza killed 26 people.

On February 14th, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a high school shooting was carried out by Nikolas Cruz, in which 17 people were killed.

On May 18th, 2018, at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, Dimitrios Pagourtzis carried out another high school shooting, killing 10 people.

On October 1st, 2015, at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, a school shooting was carried out by Chris Harper-Mercer that killed 9 people.

On March 21st, 2005, at Red Lake Senior High School, Jeff Weise carried out a high school shooting killing 7 people. 

On April 20th, 1999, at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris opened fire and killed 15 people in the most well-known high school shooting in American history. 

These all have one thing in common: they are all school shootings, most cause by underage teenagers whose mental health issues were overlooked by adminstrative staff. Everyone who is involved in a school shooting is affected by it. Every time a report of a dead child reaches the ears of a parent, another life is forever impacted. With each shooting, another heart is broken, another life is torn apart. 

We all have the power to stand up, to be an advocate for change, and to stand up for what is right. President Biden, you and your administration have the power to bring nationwide gun control laws, and the power to save lives. 

If we win, lives will be saved. People will be helped. School shootings might become something that isn't as normal as it is right now.

I, a middle school student going into high school this fall, refuse to live in fear for my life. Nobody should have to wake up, feeling afraid as they ride their bus or carpool, maybe even walk to school, looking back at their parents, hoping this isn't the last time you'll see them. Hoping that you won't be one of the kids barricading the classroom door, hiding in a corner with your classmates, texting family members that you love them, or holding a friends hand praying for your life. That you won't be forced to throw your backpack or a chair at a school shooter, trying to disarm them. That you'll never have to call 9-1-1 to report a school shooting. No kid should have to watch videos of what to do in case of this. No child should have to hide underneath the body of a dead classmate, hoping that the shooter won't notice you. 

We have come together to request that a change be made, that gun control laws are put in place.

-Zora Montague, Activist.