In Tennessee, we lead the nation in two devastating statistics: child deaths from firearms and guns stolen from cars. Firearms are now the #1 cause of death among our children and teens ages 1-17. Our suicide rates by firearm are at an all-time high, and across the U.S., someone dies by gun violence every 11 minutes.
Recently, I learned from a friend whose daughter just started a job as a police officer in London that only a very small percentage of London police officers routinely carry firearms. The contrast with our gun-saturated culture is stark and telling. We've normalized a level of violence that much of the developed world finds incomprehensible.
My father attempted to take his life with a gun on my 15th birthday. Gun violence has continued to impact our family. My daughter's story, now a high school senior, illustrates the human cost of our state's gun violence epidemic. After losing her father to brain cancer and enduring COVID-19 isolation, the added trauma of active shooter drills became unbearable. Research shows these drills, which now occur in 95% of American schools, increase anxiety by 42% and depression by 39% among students, teachers and parents. The effects can last at least 90 days after each drill.
She chose virtual schooling – a decision that, while right for her, reflects a harsh reality no child should face. She's missed out on traditional high school activities of friend groups, proms, athletic events, theater shows, driving to school and the list goes on. Now, she's channeling her experience into a short film she's making with a friend called "Dread," examining how gun violence and lockdown drills affect students' mental health. I'm proud of her advocacy, but heartbroken that it's necessary.
The scope of this crisis is staggering. Since Columbine in 1999, more than 383,000 students have experienced gun violence at school. Here in Nashville, we're still processing the Covenant School shooting and the loss of Belmont University student Jillian off campus. These aren't distant headlines; they're our community's wounds.
This isn't about politics – it's about our children's lives and their mental health. Whether you're a gun owner or not, this affects everyone in our community. If you own a firearm, please practice responsible ownership. Never leave a gun in your car. Support expanded background checks. These are basic steps that can save lives.
The solutions exist. We know what works: secure storage requirements, expanded and universal background checks, and evidence-based prevention programs. What we need now is the collective will to implement these changes.
As parents, we shouldn't have to choose between our children's education and their mental health. As a community, we shouldn't accept gun violence as inevitable. Our kids deserve better than to grow up in fear, and it's up to us to demand the changes that will keep them safe.
The trajectory we're on isn't sustainable. But change is possible if we work together, speak up and take action. Contact your representatives. Join local advocacy groups. Talk to your neighbors about secure storage. Every conversation, every action brings us closer to the change our children deserve.
Cara Davis is a widow and mother of two living in Nashville, Tennessee. She writes books about parenting with anxiety at papertiger.store.