Feb 21, 2018 3 min read

Every person in this country should be upset and fed up with every leader’s inability to protect our children better. Now is the time for the people to demand action! This divisiveness is consuming our nation and the results are deadly.

All we see are talking points and buzzwords that trigger all people. Nothing gets done but insulting, blaming and further jeopardizing all citizens, but especially our young people. The inactivity of all politicians since Sandy Hook and now through Parkland should not be acceptable. Gun control (now only a buzzword to stir passionate discourse), mental health, school security, accountability to family, social media, our fast falling culture where life is no longer valued, lack of funds for school psychologist’s, lack of support for teachers, overcrowded class sizes, bullying, inclusiveness, I could go on.

I have a secret, it is all the above. Why does this issue have to be a singular issue? We have numerous problems and the only answer that needs to be found is “Does it help save lives?” We must recognize, guns will never be banned, nor should they. But how does a 19-year-old buy an AR-15 when you can not buy a hand gun until you are 21? Why are there no professionals guarding our kids? “My kids shouldn’t have to be guarded!” Absolutely, I agree with you 100 percent. Kids should not have to be guarded in school, but look at the alternative. I bet you can find families in Florida that wish there was just one well-placed armed guard. Probably can find similar folks in Colorado and Connecticut, and, well in every place where loss has occurred. Why don’t schools set up a confidential hot line to report concerning behavior? Why is it that there is no clearing house for individuals who should never own a gun due to a variety of reasons? Why do we not have a specific agency to combat issues such as these.

The “let’s hope this does not happen here” or “this is a safe place, it will never happen here” ideal should be smashed. Parkland, Florida is (was) among the safest places to live in the nation. Look at the recent events in Uniontown, threats at other schools. No more should it be accepted that, “I was just joking around.” When will someone stand up and say, “THAT IS IT!”

It is interesting, many of the ideas mentioned above came from school students who are concerned. Students who should never be worried about getting an education at any level, grade school, middle school, high school and college. The United States Department of Education says there is 50.7 million school students entering pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. That’s not counting college students. Every single one of those students matter. Continued inaction tells them otherwise. We live in a time that prides itself saying this life matters, you are special, be inclusive. If nothing gets done, none of their lives or their future matters. If we continue this same course, it is all our faults. Not just our elected officials.

Stop bickering and supporting one special interest or another. Demand action of your leaders, at the federal, state and local levels — or find new leaders who will act. Stop screaming and closing your mind, this goes for everyone! Get rid of special interest groups. The only special interest group that should be priority are our kids. Common sense should prevail but hey, it’s only a child’s life at stake.

Steven Shaffer

Connellsville