Students Feel Unsafe after School Shootings in the U.S. this year.

 The number of mass school shooting in the U.S is still not declining despite efforts in increasing school security.

Video Courtesy of CNN

            In a poll conducted Dec. 2013 by Hamilton College, high school seniors were asked how safe they really feel at their school, 60 percent felt they were somewhat, fairly, and very concerned with their safety.

           
     In the past month alone there have been two major school shootings in the U.S that were reported in the media, and two incidents were reported at De Anza College this year.

Five students at De Anza College were interviewed and asked what their major safety concerns were on campus.

           
      “I take night classes here, and I rarely see security patrolling the parking lots,” said Karla Galvan 28, a child development major. “The parking lots are also very dark and I catch myself running to my car at times!”

            
      Galvan has expressed her concerns with the De Anza police department and will continue until she transfers in the fall.  

           
       According to the Washing Post, in an analysis of school shootings there were 74 incidents that included, fatal, nonfatal, suicidal, and unintentional shootings in the US following the Sandy Hook incident in Dec. 2012.

Photo Courtesy of Sanjoseinside.com  

            
       Danny Gonzales 25, and EMT student who works with children part time was asked what school shooting impacted him the most.

“Sandy Hook was probably one of the hardest shootings to take in, I work with kids and I can’t imagine someone wanting to hurt such innocence.” He said.

The fact is the there are a lot more school shooting than what is reported in the national media and students are taking notice.

In the Hamilton College poll, 85 percent of the high seniors surveyed agreed that stricter laws should be enforced in the purchasing of guns.

School security is not the only way to keep students safe; it is also the duty of the police departments to take every call and incident reported seriously.

Photo Courtesy of CNN

In the UC Santa Barbra shooting, there were multiple police reports filled by even his family, on Elliot Rodger, the shooter, regarding his mental state. YouTube videos were also posted regarding his plans for the attack and nothing was done.

“The shooting’s can happen anywhere, and what is even more frightening is that it seems police is not doing much about the situation.” Said Lida Gonzales 26, a business major at De Anza College.

Guns are not the only things that pose a threat to students, this year at De Anza there has been two known police reports filled of students being victimized on campus.

During the begining on the year there was a rape incident reported by a young women in a campus bathroom, and recently there was another involving another young women being threated with a knife in a parking lot.

LeMai Le 21, a communications student at De Anza was asked how she felt towards the incidents that involved two young women being attacked on campus.

“I like that the school notifies us, but we haven’t heard anything from the first incident, is it solved?” she asked, “Did the catch the guy? I mean the guy could be in my class for all I know.”

Le’s questions still remain unanswered and the concern for more safety on campus is still an issue that students are concerned about.

“I do not want De Anza or Sac State (where I am attending in the fall) to be another victim of school shootings.” Stated Athena Marielle 24, a communications major at De Anza, “I want to feel safe and enjoy my years as a student.”

It is evident that students do not want to become another statistic, and are doing what they can by expressing their concerns.