We are absolutely appalled at the irrevocable damage we as a culture have created.
Children are no longer protected by innocence but instead are running around like hooligans.  In response to a recent gunfight at a mall in Oklahoma, we are speaking out.

Children are getting hold of guns and literally killing other people. When you read those words on a page, you are not that surprised or even moved. The problem is that this issue is blurred. We try to blame video games or a lack of gun control. Those are not the issues.

The issues lie much deeper.

The problems are that children are not aware of their actions and that love is not something expressed nearly enough. Hatred has become a staple of our society. Children are bred to hate others and their hatred builds up so much that they lash out.

In this weekend’s shooting, one life was taken and so many more lives were broken. We can all somewhat understand the idea that if we point a gun at something and pull the trigger something will be hurt, if not killed. But those actions don’t become real until it is too late—too often the emotional distress caused by gun tragedies are a mere afterthought during the act.

We have become so numb to these incidents that we receive the news as anything but what it is: a complete nightmare. Maybe if more children were taught that there are consequences to every one of their actions, violent acts towards others would be less frequent.

We are so saddened that this article has to be written, as we thought that this would be common sense. However, too many people are falling victim to a violent culture. It has to stop somewhere.

Schools, malls, grocery stores: we feel like nowhere is safe anymore. Everyone has been subjected to the threat of violence. If this recent shooting didn’t scare you, maybe the idea of a coffee date at Starbucks ending in you being an innocent victim will. That idea isn’t too farfetched anymore.

It’s a sad day when we have to watch our backs everywhere we go. We can blame it on whatever we want to, but it is real. It is sad. And we really need to be more conscious of the effects our actions have on others.

America prides itself on being a safe place, but every day it gets a little scarier.

Samantha Cangelosi is a sophomore journalism major and Samantha Verrill is a junior journalism major. They can be reached for comment at [email protected] and [email protected], respectively.