In light of the recent scare of a school threat that happened here or the shooting in Parkland, Florida, it’s time to start talking about gun violence. After recent rumors about violence that were so unnerving we had to take class time to talk about it, the school made an official statement saying that they did not believe there was a potential threat on its way.

The school’s official statement read: “Last night, a widely shared social media post was brought to our attention referencing a concern of a potential threat to students and staff at Presque Isle High School. Presque Isle High School administration has investigated the information contained in the post and have determined that there was not a threat made regarding an act of violence at our school. Members of the Presque Isle High School administration have been in contact with the Presque Isle Police Department and remind anyone to contact us if you have any concerns regarding student and staff safety at PIHS. The safety and well being of our students and staff is of utmost importance and our top priority. Thank You.”

The school also encouraged people to speak up and talk to teachers if they felt like there might be a threat.

Our parents and grandparents grew up in an era of the constant potential threat of nuclear bombs coming because of our proximity to Loring Air Force Base. Today we consider our threat going to school and being shot. It’s a scary world to live in. This is where rumors start: fear. Seniors and juniors who have read Francine Prose’s After can understand what fear does to us. In an era where it feels like there is a shooting at least once a day, we are nervous if our turn might be next.

The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as at least four people shot, not including the shooter and a shooting is defined when a gun is fired regardless if it was a misfire or if anyone was hurt. As of February 14 there were 18 school shootings (not counting the two suicides and several misfires) in 2018. According to the Guardian, an estimated 265 million guns are owned by Americans. That’s more than one for every adult.  We are fortunate that we live in one of the safest periods in history, however, 2017 was deemed as one of the deadliest years for mass shootings.

By the time I was 13-years-old I wasn’t surprised when there was a mass shooting, by the time I was 15 I was scared I would be in a mass shooting, an at 17 I feel like I can predict that next month there will be a mass shooting, the gun will be an AR-15 and a dozen people will be dead. In my short 17 years of life, four of the deadliest mass shootings have happened. Columbine does not even make the top ten anymore.

My solution to lower the rates of gun violence? Get rid of bump stocks and get rid of AR-15s, as well as semi automatics. Yes, the four percent of mentally-ill with violent tendencies play a role in shootings, but there are also gang members, domestic abusers, and people out for vengeance.

Guns can be a great item to use, when used properly. Remember when we were kids and we misused something? Adults took away our privilege to use that item. Even if we never misused them, but those few kids in our class or our siblings did, we could no longer have our fun. I think that’s what needs to happen to cut down gun violence.

Too many people have died. If it’s too early to talk about the Parkland shooting, let’s talk about the Las Vegas shooting, or the Pulse Nightclub, or even Sandy Hook, which happened five years ago.

It’s time to start feeling safe again.