The recent mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has sparked much controversy and debate about what should be done to prevent tragedies like this from recurring.  The shooting took place at about 2p.m. Wednesday, killing 17 people and injuring 14 more. The shooter has been identified as Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school.

“Honestly, I think people need to take each other more seriously,” sophomore Aly Gibb said. “People blatantly state all the time how they’re going to kill themselves or shoot up the school but no one ever takes it seriously or bothers to report it. People just laugh and brush it off as a joke.”

Senior Jerry Sola has a different approach.

“What I feel causes these situations is a lack of empathy and gun control,” Sola said. “Why is it easier for a kid to find a gun than it is for them to find someone to talk to? I mean, this kid was bullied and had a troubled domestic life, and no one thinks that’s the root of anything? I say make people understand empathy and establish more gun regulations.”

Still, some feel there isn’t much that can be done when it comes to students carrying weapons on campus.

“I think it’s impossible to prevent something like this from happening,” sophomore Connor Miles said. “Unless some unreasonable level of precaution is taken, such as the TSA at airports or metal detectors, but that would be completely impractical at school.”

By Gracie Moravecky