Nashville, Tennessee, is mourning the loss of three school children — all just nine years old — and three adult staff members of the Covenant School, after their lives were taken during a shooting on the school’s campus. The shooter, identified as 28-year-old Audrey “Aiden” Hale, was a former student with no criminal record. Hale committed the shooting with three legally purchased firearms, according to ABC News. Police action during the confrontation was swift and concise, ending the shooter’s rampage just three minutes after they arrived on the scene, per CNN. This stands in stark contrast to the police conduct surrounding the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, just under a year ago. 

Tennessee, a Republican stronghold known for having loose gun laws, is a prime example of how the only solution for America’s gun violence epidemic is preventive action that ensures firearms do not fall into violent hands. Tennessee lawmakers even worked to further loosen gun laws in the weeks before the shooting at The Covenant School. The police response was swift; there were good guys with guns on the scene, yet six people still lost their lives in a trend that claims thousands of Americans each year. 

Children and teens are dying en masse in America, and little action is being taken to solve the root cause. According to Everytown Research, firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in this nation, yet our elected representatives refuse to take the actions necessary to end this epidemic. According to FOX News, when asked what he thought Congress’ role should be in addressing our nation’s gun violence problem, Representative Burchett (R-TN) said, “I don’t see any real role that we could do other than mess things up honestly.” 

As citizens, we cannot continue to condone this blatant negligence from our legislators not only in Tennessee but across the country. Their job is to pass laws and form a government that protects the life and liberty of those they represent. Yet, children are dying, and they still sit on their hands when asked to do their job. We must demand that action is taken to end this epidemic. Every one of the individuals whose lives were claimed in The Covenant School deserves to be alive; their deaths should have been prevented long ago. We cannot become complacent with the idea that gun violence cannot be solved — the deaths can and must end.