In this article:
On Tuesday, at least 19 children and two teachers were killed when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. It was the 212th mass shooting and the 27th school shooting of 2022; it was the 144th day of this year.
It’s been 23 years since Columbine, 10 years since Sandy Hook, five days since the last school shooting before Uvalde. It feels like so much time has passed, and yet nothing has changed. I, like millions of other parents, do not know if it’s safe to send my children to school or other extracurricular activities.
I’m angry. I’m terrified. I’m overwrought with grief. I am numb.
If you are also feeling helpless, you are not alone. Read on for what you can do to help.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones
There will be time enough for action like campaigning for legislative reforms, voting, and community organizing. But giving yourself time to mourn and heal is for the long haul. This sickness in our society did not manifest overnight, therefore the work to root it out will not be quick or simple.
Seek support and help from your community
Reach out to trusted friends, family, or a medical provider. Be kind to yourself.
If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, or thoughts of harming others, please call or text SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. They provide 24/7/365 crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused (such as mass violence) disasters.
Talk to your children about violence, mass shootings, and school safety
These are not fun conversations by any means, but unfortunately, even if you keep the news from your children, they will hear about it. Remind them they can come to you when they’re afraid and that you’ll answer their questions as best you can.
“Be the source of the information for your children, so they can learn what this means for your family. You want to tell them the truth in clear, concise language. You want to share facts,” Marcie Beigel, Ed.D., BCBA-D, told Mom.com. “In these situations, they need to be reminded that they are safe and all is well for them.”
Some immediate actions you can take
While many of these steps can be done immediately, sustained and consistent effort is what will ultimately make a difference — especially in terms of changing existing laws. Please keep in mind that like volunteering to help others during the holidays, these issues are complex, year-round, and pervasive.
Vote (but especially in local elections)
It’s trite but true. Register to vote. Vote. Contact your local representatives, and if they don’t appropriately represent you, vote them out.
Donate to violence prevention groups
Financially support gun violence prevention groups, funds to help victims and survivors of mass shootings and their families, or other education groups such as:
• Everytown
• Sandy Hook Promise
• Stand With Parkland
• March for Our Lives
Email or text your local representatives
If you’re like many of us, you may only be familiar with the U.S. President, the U.S. Vice President, your state’s governor, your U.S. Senators, and your U.S. Congressperson.
- However, there are also your city council, county, and state representatives. Find who the public servants representing you are by inputting your address at MyReps.
- To reach the White House, call 202-456-1111, email them, or contact them via snail mail.
Join local protests, walkouts, and grassroots organizations
If protests and demonstrations are more your thing, you can join like-minded people in your area to publicly express your opinions. Depending on the type of event, you can even bring your children. Always remember to take appropriate safety and identity precautions so that you do not endanger yourself or your fellow protesters. You can find more information about protest safety here.
Volunteer your time
If you cannot or do not only want to donate your money, you can also volunteer your time at your local school, organization, house of worship, or community center.
Start conversations
This can look like arranging for local speakers on topics touching on and intersecting with mass shootings, starting a book club or reading list (for kids and adults), writing articles for community newsletters, or even posting on your social media. Regardless of the space, you have influence and can engage with your peers.
It’s not just about gun violence
It’s tempting to make Uvalde and other mass shootings just about gun control and violence prevention, except the actual discussion is extremely nuanced and complicated and rooted in patriarchy and white supremacy. For instance, what developmental issues bring a person to commit such an act of brutality? What in our society and its attitudes about mental health, race, gender, and masculinity contribute to violence? How do we prevent gun violence at an individual, community, and legislative level?
Educate yourself
This seems like such a canned talking point, but it really is so vital. For example, a common response to mass shootings is to lobby for more robust screening and gun ownership restrictions.
But that’s not as easy as it sounds. Our country has a long, frustrating history with gun reform, with major gun-control legislation repeatedly being blocked by members of Congress. Although the vast majority of Americans support more stringent laws, experts are skeptical we’ll be seeing real change anytime soon. “…it’s highly unlikely that the massacre of at least 19 schoolchildren and two adults in Uvalde, Texas, yesterday, or President Joe Biden’s emotional plea for action last night, will result in legislative action,” political analyst Ronald Brownstein wrote for The Atlantic.
However, these issues are complicated. That’s why it’s important to invest your time and resources into educating yourself.
