Two years ago, the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland started a massive push for gun control across the nation.
The shooting lead to a multitude of state reports, investigations and policy changes– such as one that raised the legal firearm purchasing age to 21– to help control the ever-expanding number of shootings across the country.
The Guardian Program was also established, allowing teachers access to firearms for protection purposes. The program, which Guardians must pass with series of psychological tests and drug screenings, as well as “a minimum of 144 hours of training” prior to access, has been a major step for school safety in Florida, as well as stepping stone for programs like it across the country.
Many politicians have proposed ideas that would lay gun issues to rest as well, but the issue is vast- and leaves both communities and students wondering when decisions will be made.
Precautions on College Campuses
On college campuses across the country, law enforcement has attempted to improve their own policies.
Meg Ross, captain of the University of South Florida Police Department, is trying to learn new strategies from previous national shooting incidents, notably Virginia Tech and Columbine, to ensure student safety.
“We learn from incidents both locally and nationally and look for opportunities to improve our training and response,” Ross says.
Active shooter trainings have become a regular precaution for USFPD and law enforcement across Hillsborough county.
Ross further states that USFPD doesn’t take sides on the issue.
“We enforce the laws of the state of Florida,” said Ross.
The Mental Health Aspect
Mental health has been one of the greatest concerns regarding the gun debate.
Dr. Nathaniel von der Embse, an associate professor of school psychology at USF, has been coordinating research for a 3-year project with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to find solutions for school safety.
Dr. von der Embse states that this isn’t to diagnose the next school shooter, but to screen for all manners of serious mental health issues that can endanger the classroom.
“We think of these as precursors that might predict something later,” vod der Embse says. We are trying to take the temperature before surgery is needed.”
With the policies rapidly being put into effect, von der Embse further cautions of the impact of active shooter trainings and lockdown drill.
“We are just now seeing data about the impacts,” von der Embse says, “particular[ly its] traumatic impacts on children.”
Poverty’s Link to Gun Violence
Aaron Stewart, 20, is president of USF’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America. Like many students, he is concerned about gun violence and the danger it poses toward schools and communities.
“Obviously, gun violence is bad. I think that’s pretty uncontroversial,” Stewart says. “It’s sickening that mass shootings are so common now that they barely register on people’s radar when they pop up in the news.”
While Stewart talks about guns being a concern, he also mentions that it’s not a standalone issue. He believes the cause for violence can be summed up with one key worry: poverty.
“The number one cause of gun violence in the United States is poverty,” said Stewart.
“Most of the gun violence in the United States tends to be… in impoverished areas that people are inclined to just ignore,” Stewart says. “That’s been going on for…decades, and now it’s turning into these mass shootings.”
Pro-Gun Advocates Fear What May Come of the Second Amendment
Gunner Mitchell is the social media director for USF’s College Republicans club. Unlike Stewart, Mitchell believes that people have an irrational fear of firearms and .
“I think college students have an irrational fear and misunderstanding of firearms,” Mitchell says. “I also truly believe that if a student…[were] given factual statistics on firearms and [were] taught some firearm lessons… a lot more students would be in support of…the second amendment.”
Mitchell sees this issue as a potential endangerment to both the country and the Constitution’s second amendment.
“I think if we elect people… [who] want to further restrict and take away our gun rights…the government could easily be a problem in protecting our second amendment rights,” Mitchell says. “I think…anti-second amendment could possibly send this country into the next civil war. God forbid they choose to actually go through with a crazy ‘ban.’”
Mitchell’s viewpoint further indicates how passionate voters on either side of the debate can feel.
“I could go on and on, to be honest. I am extremely passionate about our second amendment right…There’s a reason it’s number 2 on the list,” Mitchell says. “[If it] wasn’t for citizens owning firearms, our country would never be here.”
