What does it take?

What does it take to wake us up? Three school shootings in a week have left six girls, one principal, and two sick gunmen dead. Communities across our nation traumatized as a result.

Last year, our new superintendent proposed a fence surrounding the Hattiesburg High School because of several fights resulting from drop outs returning to campus and stirring up trouble. The fence would limit access, and, of course, exits; it would symbolize to those teenagers "prison" and further infringements on what they perceive as their freedoms. But adults are usually willing to overlook teenagers' complaints about such things becuase they "know best." However, the neighborhood surrounding the school did not want the fence because it would block one block of a street that they like to use so that they can avoid Hardy Street, a main thoroughfare in Hattiesburg. Convenience in travel is more important than the safety of our children.

Shame on us for listening to this argument! Shame on us for not doing everything in our power to protect our children from bullies that are too weak or sick to handle their own problems so they take them out on people that are defenseless!