Peter Walks for Democracy

Homicides are the #1 cause of death for children in the United States. “The overwhelming majority of those homicides are carried out with guns. In 2022, firearms killed more children and teens, ages 1 to 17, than any other cause including car crashes and cancer.” In the U.S., the gun death rate in that age group increased by 106 percent from 2013-2022.

Johns Hopkins writes, “To help prevent gun violence, the report authors also recommend implementing firearm licensing that includes background checks and requires safety training; policies that remove firearms from those at risk of harming self or others; community violence intervention programs; more stringent permitting for open and concealed carrying of firearms; and repealing stand-your-ground laws.”

Two Fridays ago, 20-year-old Braeden Phillips was arrested after police say he planned a coordinated school shooting at State College Area School District’s high school. Phillips has been held without bail. He planned the shooting for April 21, tomorrow, to coincide with the 26th anniversary of the Columbine shooting. He also had plans to plant bombs in staircases, police said.

According the Centre Daily Times, he was thwarted by a system that worked. “A resident under the umbrella of the Centre Youth Service Bureau told staff there of the plans, and the staff in turn called police. Officers then interviewed witnesses and others aware of the event — a few of whom were unnamed juveniles in the complaint — and Phillips was arrested by Friday night.” In the days since, police have been conducting an investigation, the District has temporarily enhanced security, and our administration and Board (I am on the Board) have been hyper-communicative.

Families are afraid and on edge. Could we have become the most recent Uvalde, Parkland, Newtown, or Columbine? The answer: “Yes.”

As a father of a 12th grader, this terrified me. You better believe I gave my son extra hugs in the last week. I also met with neighbors to listen, provide reassurances about the effectiveness of our police, connected social services, and the ongoing communication with the District. But there are no guarantees.

Fear is powerful. Here, it is based on a fact. Parents in this district have every right to be scared. Too many kids are killed with guns in the United States. As I wrote in the Centre Daily Times in December 2023:

Sandy Hook. Umqua. Parkland. Santa Fe. Uvalde. Michigan State. UNLV.

According to reports from the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week, and Everytown for Gun Safety, there [were] 80 school shootings in the United States in 2023. Twenty-nine were on college campuses.

The other 51 were at K-12 schools. At least 37 people were killed and more than 88 injured. More and more every year. No other nation has this problem. None. While American schools are among the safest places in the country, even they aren’t safe from armed people — mentally ill or not. Any innocent person, including children, can be collateral damage for a gun addiction mischaracterized as a freedom

Regardless of the decisions that the State College Area School District makes on Monday or for the rest of the year, they face a much more massive challenge: a culture and policies that give guns more freedom than it provides children with a safe education. Here, for our kids, I will look at what has worked, examine the evidence we have, what’s worked elsewhere, and consider the options.

I will also talk with my son and do everything I can to make sure he’s the kind of person who, if he sees something, says something.