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This morning suspected shooter, Dimitrios Pagourtzis shot up Santa Fe High School killing at least 10 people. This is the first major school shooting since the Parkland, Florida shooting.
FIRST LOOK: The mugshot of #DimitriosPagourtzis – Santa Fe High School student suspected in shooting that killed 10, injured 10 – https://t.co/zS756D6Y0m #SantaFe #SantaFeHighSchool #TexasShooting #hounews #KPRC2 #SantaFeStrong pic.twitter.com/Fd5W0wYohQ
— KPRC 2 Houston (@KPRC2) May 18, 2018
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization trying to end gun violence and enable gun safety, there have been 41 school or campus shootings this year alone. The Santa Fe shooting is the 41st school shooting in America in 2018.
The organization’s definition of a school shooting is “any time a firearm discharges a live round inside a school building or on a school campus or grounds.”
After incidents like this people take to Twitter to offer their thoughts and prayers to the victims and families affected. Now thoughts and prayers has been linked to people who have been complacent with gun laws.
But not everyone is tweeting their condolences. Many are taking to Twitter to demand gun control, tweeting out guides on how to cope with a shooting and just dragging people who are tweeting out their thoughts and prayers.
Santa Fe High School deserves better.
ALL AMERICA’S CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.
We've become a nation where our kids feel afraid to go to school, where parents wonder if their children will come home alive.
Thoughts & prayers aren’t enough! We need action and legislation.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/dabeard/status/997563345342431232
Aurora: AR-15
Orlando: AR-15
Parkland: AR-15
Las Vegas: AR-15
Sandy Hook: AR-15
Texas Church: AR-15
San Bernardino: AR-15
Waffle House: AR-15
Santa Fe High School: AR-15The only ones who don’t see where the problem is are Republicans.
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) May 18, 2018
LISTEN TO HER. #SantaFeHighSchool pic.twitter.com/WeKKuRiUIg
— Babe Ruthless ⚾️ (@ChargeTheMoundx) May 18, 2018
Please RT this thread of resources, coping guides, and validation for students in the wake of a school shooting.
Starting with: https://t.co/10ZCFyQm3V
— Vera Papisova (@VeraPapisova) May 18, 2018
Your #ThoughtsAndPrayers didn't work after Columbine, after Virginia Tech, after Umpqua, after Sandy Hook, after Oak Creek, after Charleston, after Aurora, after Isla Vista, after Parkland… You offer empty thoughts & hollow prayers while our kids die needlessly to gun violence
— Khary Penebaker (@kharyp) May 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/miel/status/997522908271423488
Omfg they're going to ban doors before they ban assault rifles https://t.co/v0A6QLfGfW
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) May 18, 2018
The only variable that can explain the high rate of mass shootings in America is its astronomical number of guns https://t.co/TUPahT9Rlg (From November 2017)
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 18, 2018
If you want to do more than give your thoughts and prayers you can reach out to your representatives about supporting gun reform. Contacting your rep may seem daunting, but the truth is they’re in office to represent YOU so your political voice and opinion do matter to them.
Everytown can help you figure out who your state reps are. You just have to fill out a form with your information. It will then show you who your reps are and you can click the boxes of who you want to contact. After clicking “Connect me” it will direct you to a dialogue so you know exactly what to say.
If calling isn’t your style you can text your reps to let them know where you stand on gun control. Text ACT to 644-33 to reach out to your state reps. Texting rates may apply so just be careful if you don’t have an unlimited plan.
For so many of America's schoolchildren, it's not too soon to talk about gun violence, it's too late.
Join the millions of Americans standing up and demanding our leaders take action. Text ACT to 644-33.
Santa Fe pic.twitter.com/5Ho7LcmXIw
— Everytown (@Everytown) May 18, 2018
Or you can call Congress directly, (202)-224-3121 is the number for the Congress switchboard. From there you can ask to speak to your state representative. Reps only consider their own constituents concerns so please only contact your state reps and not another state’s.
Vox has compiled some statistics about gun violence in America. These stats are a great jumping off point when talking to your reps. Just remember that you’ll most likely be talking to an aide, so be polite, factual and clear.
