This Can’t Be Normal
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This is not my usual message. But this one matters.
“This is one of those events that I will forever remember. April 17th at 12:00pm I was in a school shooting.”
– My daughter
I was on the phone with her. She was huddled in a classroom. Next door to the Student Union.
Where two people died. And five more were injured.
While I listened—to her breath. To classmates whispering. To others softly speaking on their phones.
Trying to stay calm. Trying to stay alive.
She was scared. But even more scared for her friends. She kept whispering: “I don’t want them to get hurt.”
And I wondered: Is this the last conversation we’ll ever have?
At times, she stopped communicating. Those were the moments when they thought the shooter was getting closer. So, she sat quietly with only my voice piercing the silence.
Assuring her she would be safe. Reminding her I loved her. Expressing confidence in the police to neutralize the situation.
Let me be perfectly clear—
This isn’t about politics. This is about culture. And the values we choose to uphold. Or ignore.
We blame mental health. We blame bad parenting. We say guns don’t kill… people do.
Those are cop-outs. Excuses. Distractions.
We’ve put a man on the moon. We are smart enough to figure this out.
The question is—
Do we care enough? This can’t go on. We cannot accept this as normal. We must stop making peace with chaos.
I will roll up my sleeves. I will work with anyone. Anyone willing to find real solutions.
Because I cannot go through that again. No parent should. This issue deserves a solution. This issue deserves our attention.
I am so grateful she was safe. And so sad for those who were not.
Your coach,
Chris
