Here’s what they say.
They are used by law enforcement/military, but not by anyone else.
Guns are dangerous and can hurt people.
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This is an ongoing conversation that I expect will be going on for quite some time.
A man who was mentally ill shot people in a high school.
The shooter has been captured.
But you are safe.
Your teachers and your school and mommy and daddy are doing everything to protect you."
She asked again if the shooter had been caught and I assured her that the police had him.
So I also take a stab at pretend they’re normal, even though they shouldn’t be.
I’m grateful that a shooting threat at his school last year was reported before it became reality.
And that his school teachers and administrators supported students who participated in theNational School Walkout.
As a Christian we know this is a result of sin and people can make bad choices.
Guns are not necessarily bad, but can be, depending on how they are used.
We do not play with guns, ever.
If someone shows you a gun, remove yourself from the situation and find a responsible adult.
A number ofkids have gotten seriously hurtor died as a result of guns being brought into schools.
Even though we live in a nice community, my children are not immune.
As I write this email, there is a developing story regarding a school shooting an hour away.
I ask them if they feel scared or at risk.
Parents should listen to their kids feelings and fears.
They can even discuss some of their own worries.
But then its important to tell kids that school violence doesnt just have to be accepted.
There are ways to make lasting changes to help protect children.
Tell kids about laws and policy and the process by which they can be changed.
Talk to them about the importance of voting and findingpoliticians who represent your values.
Herpreschool does active shooter drills, but she doesn’t know that’s the purpose of the drill.
I’ve struggled a lot with how proactive we should be about bringing the issue to her attention.
On one hand, this is a reality in her life.
Horrible as it is, this is the state of things and I want her to be prepared.
On the other hand, she’s 3.
I honestly have no ideahow to explain school shootings to him, now or at any age.
Simple honesty, I guess.
I’m sheltering my 6-year-old as much as I can.
My 9-year-old wrote letters to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with his student council following the shooting.
He asks a lot of questions, and I answer the best that I can.
My 13-year-old talks about it with me and with her friends and at her school.
She worries on a regular basis about her safety and the safety of her friends.
She wants to knowwhy the politicians aren’t doing something.
I’m taking all three of them to the March for Our Lives this weekend.
Joanne K., Oberlin, Ohio; three children, ages 13, 9, and 6
