In the wake of the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, schools across the United States are grappling with heightened fears of violence and a surge in copycat threats. The massacre, which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers on May 24, has led to increased security measures, the deployment of additional police officers, and restrictions on campus access. For many families and educators, the measures are a grim reminder of the fraught state of school safety in the country.
Jake Green, a 34-year-old father from Los Alamos, New Mexico, experienced this unease firsthand when he dropped off his 7-year-old daughter at school and noticed a plainclothes police officer standing nearby. Having grown up near Columbine, Colorado, where two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher in 1999, Green is no stranger to the lasting trauma of school shootings. Despite the presence of law enforcement at his daughter’s school, he remains conflicted about whether it actually makes him feel safer.
“In some ways, I really don’t feel safer with a police officer around,” Green admitted. “Seeing the police out there, it really looked like the worst possibilities were even more possible today.”
Communities on edge
The anxiety is particularly acute in El Paso, Texas, a city still reeling from a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart that left 23 people dead in a racially motivated attack targeting Hispanics. The El Paso Independent School District has faced several recent threats, which have so far turned out to be false alarms. Some incidents were attributed to prank students or overly cautious parents, but the district remains on high alert.
“Our community is still hurting from this incident,” said Gustavo Reveles Acosta, a spokesperson for the district. “It hit us really hard.”
In response to the heightened concerns, the district has ramped up patrols across its 85 campuses, reallocating officers from other duties to focus on school safety. Security measures have also been upgraded, including enhancements to surveillance camera systems. Visitors are now required to ring a bell, present identification, and gain approval before entering school buildings.
Recognizing the emotional toll of the Uvalde shooting, the district has prioritized mental health support for students and staff. Counselors are visiting schools to facilitate discussions about the tragedy, and individuals are encouraged to seek private conversations to process their emotions.
Students voice their fears
For many students, the Uvalde shooting has amplified their fears about campus safety. Mia Baucom, a 15-year-old high school student in Fort Worth, Texas, described how the tragedy hit close to home, especially since it occurred in her home state. She recalled a recent lockdown at her school due to a nearby shooting and said the Uvalde massacre has left her feeling more anxious about her own safety.
“I’m a little more stressed about it just because of that fear: What if this had happened at my school?” Baucom said. “Let’s say they send us more police. Chances are, that’s not going to stop people from going crazy and just shooting up schools.”
Nationwide response
The fear sparked by the Uvalde shooting has led to increased police presence and stricter security protocols in schools across the country. States such as Connecticut, Michigan, and New York have implemented measures to reassure students and staff while addressing threats.
In Buffalo, New York, where a racially motivated shooting at a supermarket claimed 10 lives on May 14, the city’s largest school district introduced new security measures effective immediately. Visitors, including parents and siblings, must now call ahead for permission to enter school buildings. They may also be subjected to metal detector screenings, and doors will remain locked at all times.
In Jacksonville, Florida, the Duval County Public Schools superintendent banned backpacks and large bags from all schools for the remainder of the school year. Students are allowed to carry smaller bags, but they are subject to searches.
In some cases, threats—whether credible or not—have disrupted the end of the school year. A high school in Kingsville, Texas, located 200 miles southeast of Uvalde, ended the academic year a week early due to a false threat. Dr. Sissy Reynolds Perez, the superintendent of the Kingsville Independent School District, said the decision was made to prioritize safety and minimize stress.
“In light of the Uvalde tragedy, there was a tremendous amount of stress and trauma,” Perez explained in a statement. “Unfortunately, even more stress and trauma is added to the ‘impersonation threats’ that are beginning to circulate.”
A wave of false alarms
Reports of weapons on school campuses have surged in the days following the Uvalde massacre, with many turning out to be false alarms. In Everett, Washington, two schools were placed on lockdown after reports of a gun, which was later determined to be an air gun. The lockdowns were lifted once the situation was resolved.
Similarly, in Denver, Colorado, two individuals were arrested after a high school went into lockdown on Thursday. Police ultimately found a paintball gun rather than a firearm, but classes were canceled for the remainder of the day as a precaution.
Heightened vigilance amid uncertainty
The aftermath of the Uvalde tragedy has left schools, students, and parents grappling with heightened fears and an uncertain sense of safety. While increased security measures and police presence may offer some reassurance, they also serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threat of school shootings and the systemic challenges in preventing them.
For communities like Uvalde and El Paso, the trauma runs deep, and the road to healing will be long. As schools across the country navigate the end of the academic year, the collective anxiety underscores the urgent need for solutions to address the epidemic of gun violence in America’s schools.
