The latest U.S. Census showed that deaths of people under the age of 18 increased by 50 percent between 2019-2021. Every day, the CDC reports that, on average, 12 children die of gun violence in America. While these numbers include self-inflicted tragedies such as suicide, the statistic nevertheless outlines how many lives we lose a year because of guns. This has sparked the voices of those affected and concerned to speak up, especially as a more recent incident reunites people to fight for stricter gun laws.
The shooting occurred at Annunciation Catholic School on August 27 and took the lives of two students while leaving 17 injured before the suspect took his own life on the scene. Brian O’Hara, Minneapolis Chief of Police, stated that the perpetrator, who was armed with legally purchased firearms, clearly had a deranged obsession with previous mass school shootings despite having no criminal record.
In 2024 alone, there were 38 school shootings, with most of the victims being innocent children. In 2025 thus far? Over 90.
Another gun-related tragedy happened the day before and only four miles away from Annunciation, adjacent to another Catholic school called Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Authorities called this event a “targeted shooting,” and while it didn’t occur on school property, it was nearby enough to concern parents and students alike. An eyewitness testified to hearing at least 15 gunshots near the area, leaving one dead and six injured. All people injured are expected to make a full recovery. A suspect was arrested subsequently on September 17.
The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, has joined state and national lawmakers, along with gun violence prevention activists, in calling for a federal and state ban on all assault rifles, labeling them “weapons of war.” They also called for a ban on high-capacity magazines, which, as the name suggests, allow someone to load more bullets for a firearm at a time. He said that the city should enact its own measures if the state and federal leaders won’t do anything to increase gun control. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota representative in the U.S. Congress for the 5th district, which includes Minneapolis and Columbia Heights, has come forward too.
“I never imagined that I’d come to the United States and be in high school, and that there would be a school shooting, and I myself and my children [would] have to practice school drills to avoid being gunned down,” Omar said at a press conference.
Omar has also stated that even just a simple ban to make sure firearms don’t end up in the wrong hands could help significantly.
“I definitely think we should have stricter gun laws,” Columbia Heights High School (CHHS) student Robsen Kinati (10) said. “Gun safety is something that needs to be taken very seriously. The time for change is now.”
Absent legislative change here in Heights, though, efforts to make schools safer continue. In an interview with Columbia Heights Public Schools (CHPS) Superintendent Zena Stenvik mentioned that the mission of the district is to not only make kids feel like they belong, but to keep them safe. Lockdown drills consciously and subconsciously prepare students in case an actual situation arises. CHPS also partners with the Columbia Heights Police Department (CHPD) to boost security and safety in our schools. Hired security also monitors the premises and entrance after school hours.
Stenvik also encourages students to say something if they see something suspicious or hear a rumor to ensure the safety of our entire school community. One policy, however, remains regularly broken at least right here at CHHS that Stenvik wants to reiterate.
“When it comes to safety and security, it’s very important that people know to never open the doors during school hours,” CHPS Superintendent Zena Stenvik said. “You should never open the door to let anyone in—they should always check in through the front door.”
Parents and families are also constantly notified about things happening in our district through email and social media. Not only are these emails and posts key in notifying parents about school events and news, but they also keep them informed of what is going on in our community. Whenever there is a danger nearby or a tragedy, families are not only informed but are also told steps that they can take to make sending their children to school safer.
The tragedy that happened at the Annunciation school, depressingly, isn’t a one-time event—it’s just the first to hit so close to home. School shootings are a real epidemic that keeps families, staff and students in fear. As protests and efforts are made to limit gun access and to make schools safer, we can see efforts already being made in our community. Gun control laws are very controversial, and changing them will take a while if we see any at all. Hopefully, in the meantime, if we all do our part as a community, it doesn’t have to be a tragedy that comes to Columbia Heights.
