Image
On April 17, 2025, a shooting occurred at Florida State University. A student at the university shot seven people, two killed and six injured, including one. University police later shot and injured the shooter. The student was later identified as Phoenix Ikner, son of a sheriff deputy. Ikner had access to the weapon traced to the deputy.
This is a devastating reality that the United States suffers from. Gun violence has increased over the years from 1997-2022. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that the most recent 5 school years reflected a substantially higher number of school shootings than the prior 20 years. As for 2025, there have been at least 47 incidents of gun violence this year. This is not even halfway through the year.
When students in Nashua were asked about long-term impacts a school shooting might have on mental health, education, or a community, most talked about post-traumatic stress disorder and fear. One student surveyed said that education is affected because a traumatic event can make it harder to attend school. Another student mentions the community, “it affects not only the students but the staff and people in the community around. Whether a shooting happens or if there are threats. Everyone is affected.”
The relevance of gun violence in the U.S. is disappointing. When students were asked in a survey when the last time they had heard of a school shooting happening, 61.5% reported a couple of days ago. Along with that, more than 50% of students reported that the U.S. does a bad job of protecting students. 84.6% of the students who sent in feedback from the survey were seniors. These seniors are at the end of their required schooling. Most of these students fall between 3-4 when asked on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is feeling least safe, and 5 is feeling most safe at school. Only 7.7% of students felt that they felt the most safe at school. That is a small percentage that needs to increase in the system.
Spreading awareness for ending gun violence is a step that many believe should be taken. It has already started throughout the U.S., but is still lacking in some parts. A student had reported in the survey that they would feel safer if people in higher power, like the government, spoke out about gun violence. They believe that they are the only people who can make a big impact on the country. Along with talking about the government, a student reports, “I think we should have more resources. Unfortunately, it can be such a taboo to talk about, but I think these conversations are necessary. Not just spreading awareness, but knowing how to make changes in our government that will prevent school shootings.”
Another student had a different perspective on this issue, “I think awareness has reached the max already. Everybody knows that school shootings happen. We just can’t agree on how to treat the problem.” This student is indicating that the U.S. as a whole is divided on the solution to the issue. But with the help of government officials, the awareness can lead to an answer.
