Emergency personnel remained on the scene of a shooting at Hazard Community and Technical College on Tuesday after three people were confirmed shot.
Read more: Hazard Herald (KY) – BREAKING Two dead one injured in shooting at HCTC

By Tyler Mercer–

School shootings have become a part of society we may not be accustomed to, but we are unfortunately familiar with them. Recently when we think about a school shooting we think of the young children of Sandy Hook. Last week on Jan. 15, police were called to Hazard Community and Technical College in Hazard, Ky. This news hits much closer to home for everyone in Kentucky and especially for us here at U of L.

Police don’t believe the school itself was being targeted in the shooting. That news is in a way relieving. The situation remains sorrowful, but knowing that the shooter didn’t come in with the intent to wipe out a campus, makes me feel a little less like I’m in despair. Smaller situations are much easier to control, especially when guns are involved.

When tragedy like this hits, though, we always want to blame someone for the loss of life and rightly so. We look back and think about all of the things we should have noticed about the gunman beforehand. Maybe it is a comment he made or a recent inquiry that seemed a little off. Looking back doesn’t resurrect anyone.

We as students should begin to look forward so that if a day comes where we find ourselves in this situation, we will know what to do. Everyone should take time in the near future to identify safe areas around where they have classes and where they normally visit on campus. It may sound trivial, but in the world we live in today, every precaution could possibly save your life or someone you love.

Take the time to ask school officials what guidelines we follow at U of L for emergencies. Not only for school shootings, but for inclement weather and other disasters.

[email protected]
Photo courtesy Cris Ritchie/Hazard Herald