Gun violence has become a reality for students in recent years and since the highly popularized Columbine shooting in 1999, there have been four-hundred seventeen successful school shootings nationwide. This number is not just a statistic; but rather a representation of the nationwide epidemic looming over communities. With the increase in school shootings, also has come a rise in student protests and the demand for change through government policies and prevention tactics.

On the morning of September 4, 2024 a mother called Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia notifying the school’s faculty that someone needed to find her 14-year-old son, Colt Gray, as soon as possible. There was confusion amongst the staff regarding the student’s location due to a different boy with the identical name, and they were too late. Just minutes before, suspect Colt Gray, had asked to go to the bathroom, but in reality walked out with a concealed AR-15 style killing two students, two faculty members, and severely injuring nine others.

The  following day, the suspect’s father, Colin Gray, was arrested and charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty, due to his gifting of the dangerous weapon to his son. Additionally, the FBI received a tip about Colt Gray making online threats against schools in May 2023, but deputies in Colt’s county said they were unable to prove the tip. The Apalachee shooting serves as a reminder for schools to put in place efficient security plans to investigate threats and defend immediately .

In the fifty years leading up to May 2022, the number of school shootings annually increased more than twelve times. At the rapid rate of this violence, with no changes, the future of safety in schools will be at risk. On the contrary, if awareness and safety protocols continue to evolve and educate communities on the danger of school shootings, there could be a chance of a safer future. Students have discussed whether the amount of school shootings will either increase or decrease in the upcoming years.

“It depends how much people advocate for stopping it and trying to prevent it, rather than just talking about it after it happens,” said Kelly Thompson (11).

The preventative and security measures in public school systems nationwide have heightened in response to the high rate of shootings. Between 2010 and 2020, the percentage of public schools that reported having one or more security staff present at school at least once a week increased from forty-three to sixty-five percent. This policy has been adopted by Olathe Public schools and Olathe North’s Student Resource Officer, Kristoffer Nichols, explains how the city is preparing.

“A basic answer for Olathe specifically is the hiring of retired officers, like Mr. Allen, who are armed as added security. The police department has also increased the frequency and depth of training for active shooter response. We train with neighboring agencies as well for better coordination in our responses,” said Nichols.

The retired officer mentioned, Mr. Allen, has been an addition to the Olathe North security in the case of a potential threat to the school and all Olathe high schools have followed this new policy as well. With a demand in both the frequency and depth of police department training, there has been an added sense of security to the district. The city has taken actions to prepare for and avoid any gun violence being heightened in schools, including the investigation of rumors.

  “The district’s ‘see something, say something’ and the PD tip line have also been created to get rumors investigated faster,” said Nichols.

A rule that might seem simple to some, is necessary to the fast response of school shooting signs or threats. The slower actions and mistakes of security from the Apalachee High School shooting in early September are an example of exactly what schools are preventing nationwide. Rumors or potential signs of violence by students is not to be taken lightly and instead, should be immediately investigated by the local police force. Olathe North High School’s student body recognizes the long-lasting effects of this violence on individuals.

“It affects family life because they worry about what’s going to happen to you at school; it can ruin someone’s life,” said Brittney Wright (12).

The increase of school shootings has not only sparked a widespread panic amongst America, but also the demand for more safety policies to be put in place.