“Enough prayers. We need policy change”: Nashville Mass Shooting is the 129th One of 2023
March 28th, 2023, there was yet another mass shooting in the United States, becoming the 129th in the country since the start of 2023. The ongoing tragedy of gun violence continues to plague our society, leaving more families and communities grieving the lives lost. As details of yesterday's school shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee continue to emerge, we are left to confront the very horrific epidemic that is school shootings in America.
9-year-old victims Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney lost their lives at the hands of a former student at the elementary school. Audrey Hale has been identified as the 28-year-old who entered the building with multiple assault weapons including a handgun, rifle, and a pistol. Alongside the loss of many young lives, were three faculty members—Cynthia Peak, Katherine Koonce, and Mike Hill.
As families grieve their loved ones and the Nashville community seeks a promise of safety, Andy Ogles, a republican representative in Tennessee, refuses to entertain questions regarding the ban of AR-15 rifles. Instead, he raises the proposition of “the real issue facing the country,” which is mental health.
Senator London Lamar of Tennessee recently introduced bill SB0010 which “requires a person to obtain an enhanced or concealed handgun permit to carry a handgun in certain counties.” Ultimately the bill “Failed in Senate Judiciary Committee” on March 13, 2023.
“Enough prayers. We need policy change,” Lamar shares on Instagram.
Source: Instagram
Politicians from around the country have voiced their despair, opinions, and two sense on the gun violence epidemic in our country that has become too real to further ignore.
“Lord, when babies die at a church school, it is time for us to move beyond thoughts and prayers.”
“The blood of these children is on my colleagues’ hands”
“We’ve heard before that gun violence prevention is impossible, and yet we’ve made progress as we come together. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
As Nashville mourns the loss of lives and the devastation of another school shooting, questions are being raised about gun control and mental health services. The Lexington Line encourages all to fight for the thousands of lives lost by gun violence in 2023 and the countless ones before. Find resources to support those who’ve fallen victim to gun violence and take action below.
If you know of further resources to take action against gun violence, please leave them in the comments below.