On February 2nd, 2024, Vanden High School went on lock down due to a student calling the police about a gun issue. After authorities arrived and investigated, they said there was no active shooter on campus. This situation not only caused Vanden to go on lockdown but also the neighboring school. After further investigation it was declared to be a prank call. Situations like this make us really wonder: Why would someone want to fake a serious accusation which leads to creating havoc?
According to Vanden students, like many situations this all started with a few people. Students later took the situation to social media expressing their emotions and reasonings. Majority of the posts revolved around a specific story though. They say it started when a girl claimed to have had issues with her step-brother, she told other students about the situation which made them grow strong feelings against the step-brother. A group of boys planned to “jump” the step-brother and a phone call was made to the police about this fight. No one was able to specify if the phone call was to get the step-brother in trouble or something else. It is known that rumors fly like crazy and Vanden students predict the “prank call” was about the step-brother.
It leads us to think how can schools prevent situations like this if they reoccur. I think to prevent this situation schools can implement several strategies: Firstly, administrators can educate students about the severity of these situations and potential outcomes, these can be talked about within the classroom. Secondly, having a supportive and inclusive school environment where students feel comfortable telling their concerns to trusted adults can help staff approach these issues before they worsen. Also, maintaining good communication between parents, teachers, and law enforcement allows better approach to any potential threats. Another idea could be taking technology from students overall. On the flip side of this sounding like a good idea, banning phones will lead students to become more upset and even with rules established people are least likely to listen. Plus, banning phones at school limits our access to important information and emergency contacts, leaving us vulnerable in unexpected situations.
When getting calls about possible guns on a school campus it has to be taken very seriously. In the United States nearly 350 school shooting incidents have already occurred and more than 338,000 students in the U.S. have experienced gun violence at school. School shootings have unfortunately become a terrifying reality in the United States, threatening everyone’s safety and security. Guns are easily accessible and having firearms in a school makes it dangerously easy for people to have their safety at risk. These incidents not only result in tragic loss of life but also leave trauma for survivors and communities.
As a society, we can work together to prevent school shooting issues by arguing for stricter gun control laws to limit access to firearms. We also need to account for mental health resources and support systems to help prevent people who may risk students’ futures. Allowing a culture of kindness and conflict resolution in schools can help prevent situations like this from getting to the point of violence.
