28—that’s the number of school shootings we’ve had in the U.S. in 2021 alone. The most recent school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan on November 30th sadly comes with little surprise and demands the attention of the nation when confronting the divisive topic of gun violence in the U.S. We’ve learned from Oxford Sheriff Michael Bouchard that the 9mm pistol used in the shooting was bought as a birthday gift for the 15 year-old shooter by his parents only a few days before.
In light of this tragedy, I wanted to share a shocking campaign made back in January for States United to Prevent Gun Violence. The “Unboxing” PSA isn’t tailored towards voluntary gun violence by teenagers; it was made to prevent accidental shootings by children. But it does aim to raise awareness about gun owners’ responsibility in terms of proper gun storage—which can prevent both accidental shootings, as well as those that are premeditated. The ad is equally disturbing and horrifying, and even more so with the statistic at the end: “Every day, 8 kids are shot by a misused or unlocked gun.” The message is simple: if you’re going to have guns in the house, lock them up. In the instance of an unintentional shooting or a planned school shooting—it can save lives.