Being mentally massacred

Youth of today seem numb when hearing about any mass shootings, and it’s no wonder when the number of these shootings this year alone adds up to more than one a day.  According to an article in The Washington Post, after adding the recent shooting of 28 people in San Bernardino, where 14 were killed and 14 were injured, there have officially been 355 mass shootings (4 or more victims) in 2015. These shootings have happened all over the country, and the motivation behind the shootings have been varied, from the shooter having severe mental problems to acts of terrorism. The ultimate goal of these violent acts is to change the way we live and change our lives, but the question remains whether or not it has been successful.

Though the number of mass shootings in Pennsylvania is low compared to other states like New York and California, at Big Spring some students and teachers have some serious opinions on this topic. Travis Barnes, a science teacher, will not let these shootings change the way that he raises his children and the way that he lives his every day life. He said if he does that,  “The shooters would be successful with what they were trying accomplish.” So Barnes plans to continue to live his life normally while still honoring those killed. Barnes and his wife both also have their concealed weapon permits. He said,  “I almost feel more uneasy when I carry because then I really think that I may have to use it, when I don’t these thoughts don’t cross my mind.”

“I knew that there were more shootings than days,” said senior Phillip Barrick. “Sometimes I think about how it could happen anywhere, but because we live in such a small town it is pretty easy to forget about.” Barrick doesn’t plan on getting his concealed weapons permit. He believes having a self defense weapon in the house is a good thing, but he won’t carry one on him. Barrick was vocal about how he believes that events like the shooting in San Bernardino have become too common and how the public have started not be surprised to hearing of these shootings.

Bob McClure remembered when he was in high school he was able to bring his rifle to school and leave it in the office if he planed on going hunting after school. These days if a student would forget to take their rifle out of their car after hunting they would be expelled or at least suspend for a long period of time. The popular belief here is that these events have not and will not change the way we live our lives, but with the introduction of the security cameras, random police and dog walk-through, and the addition of the school resource officer,  it might already have already changed.