Will You Make The Difference

The following blog was written before the latest school shootings at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, and Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. So, I want to update the statistics cited in the blog. 

As of September 10, there have been 47 school shootings: twenty-four on college campuses and twenty-three on K-12 school grounds. Nineteen people have died, and at least 77 other victims have been injured.

It is my hope that I will not need to update the statistics again before you read the blog.

Will You Make the Difference?

On August 27, two more children were killed in a school shooting. The incident was the 44^th act of gun violence on school property this year in the United States alone. To date, 18 people (children and teachers) have died and 74 people (children, teachers, and bystanders) have been injured.

I confess that I am speaking from my heart and not my head when I ask, “In what universe is that acceptable?” 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. Gun violence in our schools has reached epidemic proportions.

Startling Statistics

Forty-four school shootings so far this year compares to 39 school shootings in 2024, 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 attempting to explain it away as mental illness making a difference? Will targeting the perpetrators with more violence bring an end to the chaos and confusion? Is depending upon our lawmakers both in Congress and our state legislatures bringing any measurable results? Is saying “someone must do something” addressing the disease? 

Since Sandy Hook, almost thirteen 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 again be another mass shooting in our country.

The outrage faded until another act of horrible violence, like the shooting on August 27 at Annunciation Catholic Church 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 needs to be done to make a 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 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.

What Kind of Action is Needed?

Let’s face it, no one wants the violence that has taken place at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Antioch High School or The Covenant Presbyterian School in Nashville, Tennessee, 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 thought that every time we say goodbye to our children, spouses, and friends, it could be the last because of gun violence. The question is, what kind of action will it take to stop it from happening again? 

Other countries seem to have addressed the problem of gun violence. Countries like Australia, Canada, Japan, England, China, Singapore, Germany, and New Zealand all have gun laws that have helped in preserving human life. I support the Second Amendment of our Constitution. You have the right to “bear arms.” My question is regarding the rights of the people who are being killed, especially children. What needs to be done to protect their rights? For me, the greater question is, what needs to be done to protect the lives of the citizens of our country?

Human Life is Sacred

As I think about it, there is a need for some fundamental changes in the way we view human beings.

Human life is sacred. As followers of Jesus, you and I understand that human life is sacred and that every person, regardless of nationality, race, gender, or religion is a beloved child of God? With that being true, let us begin to 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 followers of Jesus, let us work for the well-being of others. Let’s 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 people this seems simplistic, but these are ways we have not tried in recent history. 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 is a need for some fundamental changes in the people we elect to create policies and pass laws.

Courage to Change

Elect Courageous Leaders to Congress

The time has come to elect leaders who will courageously 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. 

Elect Courageous Governors and State Legislators

The time has come to elect 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 power. Courageous leaders are vulnerable leaders. They take the risk of being authentic and trustworthy. These leaders must shift from aspirational rhetoric to real action. 

Action and Policy 

Let Us Be Who God Created Us To Be

The time has come for you, as a courageous spiritual leader, to risk popularity and acceptance. Your life and what you believe 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 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: Be A Courageous Voter

The time has come for each of us to be courageous voters. We must risk voting for candidates who might not be members of our own political party. If there is to be any positive change, you 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. 

Stepping out and speaking up is truly difficult at the time in our history.  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. 

If someone must do something, then let the action begin with you and me. 

Know of my prayers as you become who you have been created to be as a follower of Jesus.

—

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.