There has been another school shooting. My response (reaction) is how much longer are we, as the people of the United States of America, going to allow these acts of violence against our children to continue? I know there are no easy answers, but I also know that little has been done to address the disease of violence in our culture.
Startling Statistics
According to Education Week, there were 39 school shootings in 2024 compared to 38 in 2023 and 51 in 2022. You don’t need me quoting statistics and you don’t need me to say that one school shooting is too many. I am writing to ask the question, what kind of leadership is needed to address the disease of mass shootings and specifically school shootings in our country? Are our thoughts and prayers enough? Is saying someone needs to do something making a difference?
Since Sandy Hook, twelve years ago when 20 children and 6 adults were murdered in their classrooms, mass shootings in schools have become part of who we are. I hope I am wrong, but the feeling is, we have normalized school shootings. The shootings are just part of the statistics for the 586 mass shootings in 2024. They are just a part of the 711 people killed and the 2,375 people wounded. With that said, what kind of leadership is needed to be effective?
Public Health Crisis
In recent years, even when someone stepped forward to do something, a group of people grew indignant. “We have our rights.” “You can’t take away our rights.” And nothing changed. I remember thinking when I saw President Obama in tears as he addressed the country after Sandy Hook, that we would surely do something positive in the name of the children murdered. I thought that would lead to public outrage and there would never be another mass shooting in our country again.
The outrage faded until another act of horrible violence, like the shooting last Wednesday, January 22, shocked us back into the reality of our inactivity. The truth is, we do have our rights. But to address the public health crisis of mass shootings does not take away anyone’s rights. In fact, it takes seriously the rights of others, particularly children.
“Someone Do Something”
So, let me ask again, are our words enough to be effective? Are our broken hearts, whether rooted in compassion or outrage enough? Has standing in the pulpit and declaring, “In the name of Jesus, someone do something” been sufficient? Oh, there have been some changes. The Sandy Hook Promise has made significant progress in getting federal laws passed during divisive government. Congress has passed mental health and school safety laws. I want to applaud those changes. I also want to applaud the work of the teenagers from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. But the changes made are not enough. So again, what kind of leadership is needed to make the difference?
To answer that question, let me start with this story.
Telemachus
There is a story of a monk, Telemachus, from southern France, who went to Rome to take in the splendors of the Holy City. When he arrived, he was caught up in the crowd going to the Coliseum. He wasn’t aware of all that was involved in the entertainment of the day. Soon, however, he realized what was going to happen when the gladiators took their places on the field. They drew their weapons, waved them at Caesar, then called out, “We who are about to die salute thee!”
At that moment, the young monk realized that the gladiators were about to fight each other to their death. He called out in the middle of the roaring crowd, “Stop! Stop! In the name of Jesus, stop!”
His voice could not be heard above the roar of the crowd. He rushed down the aisle to the barrier that separated the cheering crowd from the strutting gladiators. Again, he yelled, “In the name of Jesus, stop!” Still, no one noticed him nor heard his pleas.
He jumped over the barrier and ran out into the middle of the Coliseum floor. He stood between two of the gladiators and yelled at each of them, “In the name of Jesus, stop!”
The two gladiators ignored his words. The spectators of the gladiator fighting grew indignant with the monk for interrupting their sport. So, they stoned him to death.
Caesar was informed of the death of Telemachus. When he learned that Telemachus was now numbered among the victorious martyrs, Caesar put an end to the sport. ¹
From that day on, there would be no more gladiator fights in Rome’s Coliseum. An end to the brutality and the death all took place because one person was willing to pay the price and give his life.
There is a price to be paid if we are to stop the mass shootings and the violence.
What Kind of Leadership?
Let’s face it, no one wants the violence that has taken place at Antioch High School in Nashville, or The Covenant Presbyterian School in Nashville, Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, or at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut, or at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, or Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado or the hundreds of other mass shootings over the years. Yet, we have gotten to a point where we can no longer live our lives without the fear that every time we say goodbye to our children, spouses, and friends, it could be the last. The question is, what kind of leadership will it take to stop it from happening again?
As I think about it, there is a need for some fundamental changes in the way we view human beings.
You are God’s Beloved
Human life is sacred. Each person is a beloved child of God. As a Christ centered leader, teach and model the sacredness of human life. Then advocate for courses in our public schools that teach the sacredness of human life. These courses need to include the understanding and care for persons of mental illness as well as the care for all persons who might be different. As we teach the sacredness of human life, we will begin to live the sacredness of each person.
Work for the well-being of others. As Christ-centered leaders, teach and model what it means to love with the love of God. Then advocate for courses in public schools that teach how to work for the well-being of all people, especially those who are vulnerable or marginalized. As we teach how to work for the well-being of all people, we will begin to model what it means to work for the well-being of others.
I know that for some this seems simplistic, but these are ways we have not tried in recent history if at all. The problem with violence, especially in our schools, is not guns but how we view people and how we work for the good of all people.
There are other things we can do to make a difference.
Courage to Change
It will take courageous leaders to step out and risk who they are and the positions they hold to make the difference. It will take courageous United States Senators and Representatives to risk re-election. The time has come to stop politicizing such acts of violence and to step up and advocate for the rights of children, teenagers, and adults who have become vulnerable in places assumed to be safe. Whether it be schools, concerts, or grocery stores, courageous leaders need to protect the rights of all of us regarding public safety. These leaders must shift from thoughts and prayers to policy and change.
It will take courageous governors and state legislatures to do the same. As our country moves more to state rights, it is imperative that state and local leaders think first of the people they serve before thinking of position or prestige. Courageous leaders are vulnerable leaders. They take the risk of being authentic and trustworthy. These leaders too must shift from aspirational rhetoric to real action.
Action and Policy
It will take courageous spiritual leaders to risk popularity and acceptance. Your leadership helps to shape the thinking and the action of the policymakers. You have the opportunity to model responsibility and accountability, not only for governmental leaders but for people who vote. Through your word and action, you will find a way to assist people to contact their United States senators and congresswomen/men to address mass shootings. You will find a way to contact the governor, state representatives, and local authorities to address the violence. You have the opportunity to step up and lead in an effort to hold the sanctity of life before policymakers as well as those who vote.
Needed Change
It will take courageous voters to risk voting for candidates who might not be members of their own political party. If there is to be any positive change, you, as a leader, must take advantage of the opportunity to assist people to vote and elect the leaders who will step up to make the changes needed. Help people be an educated electorate so that they will understand who they are electing and what each person stands for. Help people elect leaders who will have the courage to develop and deliver the policies needed to put an end to children being killed in our schools, racial hatred, and the availability of guns without appropriate laws and guidelines.
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Jesus taught, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” In leading through this crisis, you will be living as a true peacemaker.
Leading at this time is not easy. But you were created and gifted for this time in history. You have everything you need to step up and provide the leadership to change our accepted culture of violence.
Below are several resources from Transforming Mission to help respond to violence. Even though these resources were produced several years ago, the need remains the same.
There are 11 Reflections on Responding to Violence
- A Response to Violence: Part 1
- A Response to Violence: Part 2
- A Response to Violence: Part 3
- A Response to Violence: Part 4
- A Response to Violence: Part 5
- Charlottesville
- Hope in Uncertain Times
- What is Our Response?
- Holy Week Terror: Pause, Pray, and Wait
- Can We Be Forgiven?
- A Call to Ordinary Courage
The Transforming Mission Podcast also provides several episodes as resources: Episode 201: The Intersection of Immigration, Faith and the Future Church with Scott Hicks
What kind of leadership is needed to address the mass shootings in our country? Courageous and grace-filled leadership which takes the initiative will make the difference.
Know of my prayers as you become the leader needed for this time.
Story adapted from Let Me Tell You a Story: Life Lessons from Unexpected Places and Unlikely People, by Tony Campolo and Favorite Monks: Telemachus: The Monk Who Ended the Coliseum Games, by Monk Preston.