The Special

The Special Texas A&M University-Commerce

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Spring 2018

Table of Contents

March for Our Lives

(By Juan Carlos Ferrer)

Company reactions to guns

(By Joseph Miller)

Veterans react to shooting

(By Todd Kleiboer)

Arming teachers - the answer?

(By Tyler McDonough)

Active shooter drills

(By Cristhian Herrera)

Content and production are the responsibilities of the students.

The Special is produced during the fall, spring and summer terms. conTacT: The Special, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Box 4104, Commerce, Texas 75429.

STaff: Katelynn Clark, JuanCarlos Ferrer, Cristhian Herrera, Todd Kleiboer, Tyler McDonough, Joseph Miller faculTy adviSer: Fred Stewart (Fred.Stewart@tamuc.edu)

In the wake of the Parkland, Fla. school shooting, students and parents marched on the streets in hope for some new changes in gun regulations.

By Juan Carlos Ferrer Students are leading the movement of preventing school shootings from happening across the United States.

March For Our Lives has been the result of students across the United States that demand a solution to the ongoing issue of gun violence at schools, and in the wake of recent school shootings: school safety.

“School shootings are a nightmare and I honestly feel terrible for anyone involved,” Kimberly Dominguez, sophomore, said.

Students are saying they are tired of elected officials not doing anything to make them feel safe at school and parents are experiencing frustration at what they call a lack of laws passed from elected officials in response to the shootings.

“They truly show they don’t really care about the average human life,” Brandon Mack, senior, said.

School shootings have occurred in the history of the United States. Of all those shootings, three used come to mind when those words were heard. Now four come to mind.

• On April 20, 1999 - 12 students and a teacher killed at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. Twenty-one were injured.

Only a few laws were passed after the Columbine shooting. One of those laws made it illegal for an adult to buy a gun for a juvenile. A state background check was also reauthorized for anyone who wanted to own a firearm.

• April 16, 2007 - 32 students and faculty were killed at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Seventeen were injured during the attack. The deadliest shooting in U.S. history when it happened.

The response was almost identical to the way people responded to the Columbine shooting. Some blamed the guns and others claimed they had the solution. The only gun control change that happened in Virginia was a bill that made sure mentally unstable people were not permitted to purchasing guns.

The Virginia Tech shooter would have fallen into that category because the shooter was pronounced a danger to himself by a judge in 2005, but that bill came after the incident.

It is now easier to buy and carry a gun in the state of Virginia.

Many of the gun regulations that were passed in Virginia have been reversed in the past 10 years. The demand for expanded background checks has been put aside and people can conceal carry inside of a bar.

• Dec. 14, 2012 - 28 people were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Of those, 20 were first grade children, six were adults, and two were the shooter’s parents.

Two were injured.

The response to Sandy Hook was stronger than previous school shooting responses because children were killed.

“It hit so close to home. It’s a tragedy that ended up sparking outrage,” Katherine Umana, junior, said.

The Assault Weapon Ban of 2013 and the Manchin-Toomey Amendment, which would require a universal background check for gun sales, were soon created, however, those pieces of legislation failed to pass the senate.

Since the Sandy Hook shooting, only four states have added background checks. Other states

expanded on existing background checks.

•

Feb. 14, 2018 - 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Fourteen were injured.

What was meant to be a fun Valentine’s day for the students at Douglas High School turned into a nightmare when a former student, who was expelled from the school, decided to get a gun, show up to the school and shoot as many people as possible.

There have been debates on how to prevent another school shooting from happening again.

President Trump brought up the idea of arming some teachers, and recently Florida voted on a bill that would arm teachers.

Ideas have been thrown around for a possible solution, but it is clear that they are not what students want. No one wants a life to be lost in school because of a gun.

“People care about what is happening inside of schools and safety. It’s a growing concern

Protestors rallied across the United States on March 24 in hope for some gun laws. Many fear for their lives because of the school shootings.

Others were angry at the response from politicians.

Photo by Detroit Free Press

throughout the nation,” Hector Robledo, junior, said.

The lack of legislation in order to prevent school shootings has caused frustration among parents and students. Now they are expressing it.

“There has been no response!” Dominguez said.

March For Our Lives has been the result of all the frustration from the students. It quickly gained supporters after the Douglas High School shooting and the movement has since spread all over the United States with one purpose in mind.

“The purpose is to try and get politicians to finally do something about the ongoing issue of gun control,” Dominguez said.

Politicians are quick to send their thoughts and prayers and condolences when ever a school shooting happens. Students do not want any of that. They want action.

“We’re getting to a point where we’re recognizing how much of this is actually happening,” Laura Plascencia, junior, said.

The media coverage of school shootings has grown since Columbine. The shootings are a reminder to students that nowhere is safe. Not even at their own school and it brings fear to them.

“I don’t feel safe. I go to school everyday saying goodbye to my mom in case something happens,” Umana said.

Even with security guards and police on school campuses, some students still do not feel safe.

The Douglas High School shooting enforced their fear because there was a police officer on campus, and 17 lives were still lost.

“Not a day passes where I’m not thinking ‘if something happens.

Where do I run or hide?’,” Umana said.

The mission for March For Our Lives is simple: demand a bill that effectively addresses the gun issues that have been happening across the country. There has been a lot of discussions between elected officials, but nothing official yet for the entire country.

“Words mean nothing without action,” Umana said.

The March is scheduled to take place on March 24 in Washington, D.C. and across the United States. Three of those marches will be in the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex.

Many people are interested in the marches. The one held in downtown Dallas has about 2,600 people that do plan on going. Others have conflicts that do not allow them to go, but they still support the movement.

“I’ll be there in support in spirit,” Robledo said.

The success for March For Our Lives will depend on how the marches on March 24 will happen.

There have been previous movements that failed due to how the protesters ended up protesting.

“These marches will be successful only if they are respectful and effective,” Robledo said. He also added how protesting with violence would defeat the purpose of the movement.

Companies Take Stand Against Firearms

By Joseph Miller

standards just days after the events

needed to do something,” Dick’s

in Parkland, Fla.

Chairman and CEO Ed Stack

In the wake of school shootings, many companies are reevaluating their relationships with firearms.

The mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High

Walmart has stated that they will no longer sell firearms and ammunition to anyone under

actions.

Several major corporations and retailers in the United States have altered their procedures in selling firearms and ammunition, placing restrictions that are more strict than federal law.

Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart were the first two major retailers to enact more strict

America.”

One day after the decisions

the age of 21. Walmart has not

by Walmart and Dick’s, other

sold assault-style rifles since 2015,

companies such as Kroger and L.L.

citing low sales.

Bean also adopted stances to not

School in Parkland, Fla. sparked a rise in gun reform talks and

said on ABC’s “Good Morning

Following the events in Parkland, Dick’s Sporting Goods announced that they would

sell firearms and ammunition to anyone under 21.

“In response to the tragic

immediately stop selling assault-

events in Parkland and elsewhere,

style rifles and ban the sell of all

we’ve taken a hard look at our

guns to anyone under 21 years of

policies and procedures for firearm

age.

sales,” Kroger Co. said in a “When we saw what the

kids were going through and the

release.

Seattle-based outdoor

grief the parents and the kids who

retailer REI went another route

were killed in Parkland, we felt we

saying it is halting future orders

from some brands whose parent

stopped carrying assault-style rifles

and sales figures for firearms

company also makes assault-style

in their main stores, but began

decisions. Delta Air Lines also

rifles and ammunition.

carrying them in their hunting and

cited low usage of the discount that

outdoor retail chains a few months

was affiliated with the NRA.

Other non-retail companies have also made changes in their

later.

policies after Parkland.

Hertz car rental, MetLife Insurance, and Delta Air Lines,

The decisions by these The decisions of many of

companies also will save these

these companies seem to also be

companies money as well as

beneficial business moves.

address a societal issue.

among others, have publicly

L.L. Bean says that it only

There has been some

ended their relationships with the

sells firearms at its flagship store

speculation and questions to if

National Rifle Association.

in Maine and Kroger has sold gun

the three year age increase makes

from 44 of its Fred Meyers stores.

a difference or question the

the actions of these and other

Kroger has also cited low interest

specificity of the measures.

companies, while others are less

tvv

Many people have praised

concerned or feel that the measures are not enough.

“It doesn’t affect me that much, I buy my guns from a licensed firearms dealer,” Texas A&M University-Commerce student and veteran Preston

ATF Traced and Seized Firearms 2016 Total Across U.S. 289,223

Chapman said. “I think changes do need to be made in how easy it is to

Pistols - 172,742

get firearms without so much as a safety class at least.”

Dick’s also made changes in their firearms selling procedures

Rifles - 40,449

in 2012 after the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Conn.

After this incident, Dick’s

Statistics from Department of Alcohol, Tocabcco and Firearms 2016

Statistics from the ATF in 2016 show that the national average possessor age of firearms recovered or traced is 35-years-old. tv

Top 5 Largest States Possesor Average Age California - 37 Texas - 35 Florida - 36 New York -34 Illinois - 33

ATF statistics also show that of firearms recovered or traced, pistols were in greater number than rifles, yet these measures seem to be aimed strictly at rifles.

While there is much debate over the issue, some companies are not waiting and installing more strict control on their firearms selling procedures and making good business moves in the process.

Through Their Eyes

Vicente Romero (above) served in the U.S. Army as a specialist beginning in 2005.

photo by joseph miller

Veterans share thoughts about Parkland, Florida shooting

By Todd Kleiboer Screams echoed throughout the halls of Building 12 of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as shooter and former student Nikolas Cruz rampaged, killing 17, an unforeseeable and unpredictable tragedy.

A scene like the shooting that unfolded in Parkland, Florida could be

described as a ‘warzone’ as SWAT teams swept through the small high school in their search for Cruz.

However, high school students are typically unprepared for the storm of bullets that hails from the barrel of a military-grade rifle, but military veterans, especially those who have seen combat, are trained to expect the worst.

Two veterans have an idea on

what the students could have been feeling in those terrifying minutes.

Vicente Romero served in the U.S. Army as a specialist and saw combat during his service, and current A&M-Commerce Veterans Coordinator Dustin Pearson served in the U.S. Army during Operation: Iraqi Freedom and earned a Combat Infantry Badge and Purple Heart during his service.

Q: Can you describe your emotions and feelings in a combat situation?

Romero: The first time I was in a firefight, I didn’t know what was happening. I was scared. It was back in 2005. You get a lot of fear running through you, uncertainty, confusion. You don’t know what’s really going on. It seems like it lasts forever, goes on for days, but really, most firefights only happen five, 10 minutes. That’s usually how long bullets last your complement that you carry around. After that, we would always go out on night missions, and you start getting used to it. It starts becoming the norm. The fear doesn’t go away, but more and more gets replaced with adrenaline, almost like you want it to happen.

You’re asking for it.

You go out on your night patrols, and you get to the areas where you know that it’s about to pop off, you start getting a little excited. Your self-preservation starts going out the window. You want the excitement of what’s about to happen.

You tend to in normal society lose your mind a little bit, but the fear still exists. Not the fear for your own self-preservation, but the fear for your friends. It might be the last moment you ever get to spend with them. You don’t know. You want it [the firefight] to happen, but at the same time you don’t.

There’s been a lot of times where roadside bombs would take out the truck in front of me or the truck behind me. That, you never get used to, this instantaneous explosion at close range. You never get used to that. Even to this day, loud noises going to the shooting range and that first shot makes me jump.

Pearson: Anxiety, a lot of nerve-racking. You’re trained to be poised, but the first couple of

times out, it’s pretty nerve-racking, especially when that first shoot goes by you. That’s pretty much what it is. It’s chaotic. Where I was it, a lot of times you didn’t know where the shots were coming from at first.

Q: Do you think training helped you in preparing for those sudden combat situations?

Romero: The thing is that you can prepare all you want for combat. We trained for it, we train to execute our maneuvers, what we’re going to do. We had at least 10, 20 different scenarios for what happens.

Soon as that bullets go flying or that bomb goes off, all your training goes south, goes down the hole, and you just kinda shoot from the hip essentially. You assess the situation and forget about all the training that you’ve done.

It’s stuff that when you train, you know how to do it. Your senior leadership is telling you, ‘OK, so this is what’s happened. This is how you’re gonna do’, and through every scenario, it’s instilled in you, it’s muscle memory. Soon as bullets start flying, it all goes out the window. You just kinda act on the situation. You can prepare all you want, but the situations you’re looking for aren’t gonna happen.

Pearson: Yeah, absolutely. I did

some hardcore training, and I was infantry, too. All we trained for was combat. I could react to different situations, and it gets to be more mental and muscle memory. Even though you’re training for it, you don’t really know how to react the first couple times when you go out, but then it takes over, the years of training will take over.

Q: What do you think the high school students in Florida felt once bullets started flying?

Romero: They’re just kids. I was 19 when I first when to Iraq. I can see where they’d be coming from.

They’re scared kids. It goes back to my first firefight. Terrified, not knowing what to do, not knowing how to react, not knowing where it’s coming from, a lot of unknowns.

The only difference between my experience and theirs is that I could shoot back and defend myself. They are defenseless, defenseless babies.

I would assume it was a very, very uniquely terrifying experience. It’s life-changing. No one would ever forget that.

Pearson: I think the first thing is confusion. Depending on how many of those kids have actually heard gunshots and heard gunshots in a closed building, then probably comes panic, stress. The more prevalent these school shootings are

getting, you can still probably go to any high school, and they probably still don’t think it’s going to happen to them. I’m sure it’s a lot of chaotic panic.

Q: As a veteran, what would you say to those students?

Romero: Main thing is if you need help, seek it. Don’t let your pride get in the way of, y’know.

Don’t think, ‘Oh, I can handle it.’ If you have – especially after a traumatic event – if you have issues dealing with it, seek help. Talk to a friend who shares that experience with you. Talk with teachers. Talk to your parents. Talk to psychologist, psychiatrists. Get help because if you don’t, it’ll eat you up inside, and you get to a point mentally where you just tip over that edge. There is a point where it’s too late where you’ll be psychologically scarred for life, and nothing anybody says or does will help you. Get help. Talk to somebody. Don’t be too proud.

Pearson: It goes along with social support, and you still have to keep living. Don’t be afraid to take the help you need, and that can be mental help. Don’t bottle it up because it will resurface for sure.

Keep yourself busy because it’s hard to lose people, but you have to keep busy and move on. You go through a grieving process for sure.

More Guns More Answers?

By: Tyler McDonough Recently following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida President Donald Trump doubled down on his support for the controversial idea of arming teachers as a protective and preventive measure against school shootings.

On Feb. 24, 2018 President Trump tweeted out saying “Armed Educators (and trusted people who work within a school) love our students and will protect them. Very smart people.

Must be firearms adept & have annual training.”

not apply to people with concealed carry permits. Some states do allow concealed carry weapon on school grounds, but not all states do. Another

The President also noted that the decision should “be up to the states”.

exception is that adults can be allowed to carry firearms on school property with school permission. As of 2013

On the federal level, firearms

schools in 18 states have allowed

are prohibited in school zones under

adults to carry guns with some form of

the Gun-Free School Zones act, which

school approval.

passed in 1990. The law states that it’s illegal for anyone to wittingly possess a gun within 1,000 feet of a school.

This legislation however

In Texas, 172 school districts allow teachers, and staff to carry guns in their schools according to a statewide review of board policies by the

allows for some exceptions. One of the Texas Association of School Boards. most notable sections of the act does

Commerce High School Prin-

cipal Steve Drummond concerning the recent news regarding teachers carrying guns in schools said “I agree that when the district places signs around campus that teachers have the right and ability to protect students and themselves, it will deter potential attackers to the campus. I also feel it has to be strictly controlled, and regular training has to occur to ensure safety. “ Recently Drummond met with Commerce ISD Police Chief Joe Venable along with members of the Hunt County Highway Patrol and discussed this issue. “I favor a system where the firearms would be kept in a secure

place in the classroom and only accessible through fingerprint scanning devices” Steve Drummond said. “ There are districts employing this method and only upper administration and law enforcement actually know how many staff on campus have access to fire-

The Commerce ISD police force conducts trainings and drills with the schools and has a good relationship with other area agencies to garner their help when needed.

Drummond added “Everyone at CHS realizes we could be facing life

arms.”

and death situations, at any time. It is an area of focus and concern at CHS and in CISD. Safety is a top priority.”

An anonymous non-Commerce ISD teacher recently said “I believe that Steve Drummond Drummond did note that this

fully trained teachers (or professors) are very capable of being prepared, should

was his personal opinion, not speaking

the need ever arise, to defend and

for Commerce ISD.

protect their students. However, there

“Commerce ISD does have a Police force. Chief Joe Venable, Officer Dave Contreras, and K-9 CoCo are great assets to Commerce ISD, and Commerce High School. They are here to educate, protect, and serve in a variety of roles and duties” Drummond said.

“Person1ally I trust our

should and must be training. Teachers are trained in the business of instruction, not law enforcement. However, protecting students has become the norm. I must add that schools should stop the perpetrators from entering places of education in the first place. I also believe that preparation as to how the teacher will safely and effectively conceal the weapon is of the utmost

officers and witness them regularly

importance. Sadly, I believe this is our

making tough decisions, like myself,

new norm. Like it-no, accept it- reluc-

I think they have our student’s best

tantly and cautiously. most importance.

interests at heart and try to avoid

Sadly, I believe this is our new norm.

creating a criminal record for students

Like it-no, accept it-reluctantly and

when possible.” Drummond said.

cautiously.

Preparing for the worst Active-shooter training at Texas A&M-Commerce

BY Cristhian Herrera In the wake of the mass shooting that took place in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, safety within schools is becoming a larger concern.

In late February, 100 students traveled 400 miles from Parkland to the capitol of Tallahassee to lobby for a ban on semi-automatic rifles. The motion failed to pass.

At Texas A&M-Commerce, an active-shooter training session was held on Friday, March 2nd. The purpose of the class was to educate and train faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and student workers to react to a shooter on campus.

The session was led by Lt. Jason Bone of the University Police Department. Bone stands at about 6’5, has a shaved head and wears olive drab pants outfitted with a yellow taser on the left side of his hip and a Glock handgun on his right. He is the Campus Crime Information Officer and has been part of law enforcement for at least 20 years.

Lt. Jason Bone preparing for the day in his UPD office. armed a gunman who had killed one student and injured two others.

Meis has been called a hero for the actions he took.

Part of the presentation included a short video, produced by the FBI, that shows and demonstrates the steps and mindset people should have when encountering an active shooter.

“You see, it is possible to take out a shooter,” said Bone. John Meis presented with Citizen Service Before Self “But I’m not Honors Award. saying that’s what you should do every time, obviously it’s the third option.”

Survival depends on whether you have a plan. Running, hiding, and fighting are the three main concepts that the FBI and Bone wish to impart on the public.

Although an active shooter can be unpredictable, the most important thing to remember is to be aware of your surroundings and strange behavior from others.

In 2014, John Meis, a Seattle Pacific University student, dis-

Sometimes it takes a little training to achieve this

Jennifer Boyd, an emergency building coordinator, recognizes this mentality. She’s undergone online webinars and face to face discussions on the topic but realizes she needs more of it.

“Sometimes I question myself,” said Boyd. “that’s why I asked if there was addition training… so I feel more confident in my abilities and know exactly what’s expected of me.”

Expecting the unexpected is the mindset Bone hopes his attendees will understand.

“It’s human nature to think that won’t happen to us,” said Bone.

“This could happen anytime, anywhere, to anyone even in small town America.