Half of This Year’s 44 U.S. Mass Shootings Occurred at Schools
Concerns Raised Over Trauma From Survival Drills
"Such Training Is Essential for Survival in America," Say Parents
As mass shootings continue to occur without end in the United States, some parents have begun sharing on social media how they train their children at home to survive a shooting incident.
CNN reported on the 29th (local time) that Ika MacLeod, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, shared a video of herself training her 7-year-old daughter on how to hold her breath and play dead, as well as how to smear herself with someone else's blood to appear injured. The video has garnered 34 million views on TikTok.
MacLeod explained that she began this training for her child after a shooting at a high school in Georgia last September left four people dead and nine injured. The training video received even more attention after a mass shooting at a Catholic school chapel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 27th, in which two children were killed and 17 were injured. The perpetrator reportedly fired 116 rounds from a rifle at students who were praying during a mass marking the first week of the new semester.
MacLeod stated that after releasing the video, she faced criticism for potentially traumatizing her daughter. She told CNN, "The focus of the training is not on my feelings, but on passing on survival skills to my child." She emphasized, "I know this kind of training isn't suitable for everyone, but in the United States, where mass shootings constantly make the news, it is absolutely necessary."
Mourners paying tribute to the victims of the shooting incident that occurred at a Catholic school chapel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 27th (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News
Many schools in the United States already conduct drills instructing students to hide in dark, locked classrooms in the event of a shooting, but some parents believe additional training at home is necessary. Another parent from St. Louis said the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which left 26 dead, was a turning point. As her daughter grew older, she began teaching her how to run and hide if someone started shooting, and after the Uvalde, Texas, shooting in May 2022, she increased the frequency of their training and taught her how to play dead. She told CNN, "It's impossible not to experience fear and anxiety," adding, "Sadly, this is the reality for students in America today."
Pediatrician and gun control group advisor Annie Andrews pointed out, "Training that induces anxiety and stress can worsen trauma in children." Andrews added that when children must participate in gun response drills and emergency plans, parents and teachers need to consider the child's age, developmental stage, and coping mechanisms.
Meanwhile, there have been a total of 44 mass shootings in the United States so far this year. Half of these incidents occurred at schools. Eighteen people have died and dozens have been injured as a result of these shootings.
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