On March 27th, 2023, tragedy gripped the nation once again following the most deadly shooting to occur on school grounds since Uvalde. That Monday morning, the Nashville police department received an active shooter alert from the Covenant School, a private, Christian, elementary school in Tennessee. The shooter, Audrey Hale, was quickly neutralized but unfortunately, this did not completely prevent loss of life. Six victims were killed, three being young students. Nashville makes the 130th mass shooting this year (NPR).  

   Milagros Ortega, a Junior at PPCHS, a strong advocate for gun reform, and leader of Women’s United had this to say on what happened in Nashville. “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that this is still happening and that we, along with students all over the country, have to worry about stepping into school every day. … It continues to affect high school students, college students, and even 9 year old elementary students. ..I’m praying that the families, friends, and classmates of those 9 year old students and those faculty members that lost their lives heal as much as they possibly can and I pray that our lawmakers wake up before any other mother, father, sibling, or friend has to feel what those did the day of the Nashville shooting.” The shooting has added flames to the near-constant debate surrounding gun reform and mass shootings in the United States. 

   As the timeline of what happened that school morning unfolds, it’s important to remember that when it comes to mass shootings, the names and stories of the victims should be given a platform, not the shooters’. While it’s easy to get whipped up into a frenzy with the many sensational and attention-grabbing headlines surrounding mass shootings, studies have shown that paying too much attention to who the shooter is can be very dangerous (Don’t Name Them). Not only does it fulfill the shooter’s need for attention and infamy, but can also inspire copycat potential shooters looking for the same buzz. Instead, the lives and sacrifices of the victims should be memorialized. Katherine Konce was the director of the elementary school and was described by her loved ones as a caretaker and leader in her community. Cynthia Peak was a substitute teacher remembered as sweet and loving to those who met her. Mike Hill, a long-time beloved custodian with an infectious personality. Evelyn Dieckhaus’ parents remember her as a colorful, creative girl who loved to sing along to Taylor Swift. Hallie Scruggs, the daughter of a local pastor, and William Kinney, whose teammates on the field wear red to remember his love for the Cincinnati Reds. “I think the Nashville shooting is a travesty; the fact that someone took the lives of three children with beautiful lives ahead of them is disgusting,” senior Jailyn Joseph said. 

   Many students, like Jailyn and Milagros, believe the solution is gun reform. However, the issue continues to be controversial among the general public, especially so amongst lawmakers. As the country reels from yet another attack on our safety and security, messages of hope and prayers continue to be sent to the family of the victims in Nashville, a reflection of the flowers and memorials that now solemnly decorate the front of the Covenant school.