March 27, 2023 marked the 39th incident of gunfire on school grounds in 2023; that’s roughly three shootings a week since January 1, 2023. Most recently, on March 27 at the Covenant School, a private Christian school, in Nashville, TN  nine individuals died: three students and three teachers. 

“Obviously something needs to change [about gun violence],” said Lynn Thomas, the resource officer at Portsmouth High School.

“[Gun control] needed to happen yesterday, the day before that actually,” said Dana Gray, a parent and a social studies teacher at PHS.

“I think we can definitely do more than we are right now,” said Brenna Jennings, a parent in the Portsmouth school district. 

When asked if she felt safe coming to school, Maggie O’Brien, a freshman at PHS, said, “Less and less every time these things keep happening,” referring to the recent shooting in Nashville.

On March 13, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to increase background checks to buy guns, promote more secure firearms storage, and ensure U.S. law enforcement agencies get more out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer. 

“Violence, it’s ripping our communities apart, ripping the soul of this very nation,” President Joe Biden said after the school shooting in Nashville. 

“It’s time for the president and political leaders across the country to have an honest conversation with the American people and acknowledge there is no legislative fix that will permanently solve the issue of gun violence,” said Katie Pointer Baney, the Managing Director of Government Affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, in an article for the Boston Globe. 

According to surveys from Pew and Harvard and Northeastern, 40% of Americans own guns or live with someone who does.

While gun control has been an issue surrounding school shootings, so has mental health. Many people all over the world struggle with mental health and need help. According to the CDC, more than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. 

In the Seacoast, there is a waitlist for doctors and therapists for people who need help with their mental health. “The systems we have for managing mental health are critically underfunded and overwhelmed,” Jennings stated. 

“Fear is good. Kids should be afraid of getting in a car accident or failing a test, not getting shot in school,” explained Gray.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health please reach out. Lastly, if you see something, say something. Below are helpful numbers for anyone struggling with mental health or if you need to report a concern. 

988 U.S. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Available 24 hours.

1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

Text HOME to 741741 Crisis text line 

(603)427-1500 Portsmouth Police Department 

(603)436-7100 Portsmouth High School