KC Voices: Classroom journals show mass shooting in KC traumatic but sadly unsurprising to local teens

Fans dispersing after cops clear the area at the Chiefs victory event, post-shooting. // Photo by Jim Nimmo

In the KC Voices column, we ask members of the KC community to submit stories about their thoughts and experiences in all walks of life. If you’ve got a story you’d like to share with our readers, please send it to brock@thepitchkc.com for consideration. Today, local teacher LA Jacobs shares a selection of student reactions to the violence on Valentine’s Day at the Chiefs victory parade mass shooting.

Illustration by Jack Raybuck

KC Voices local submissions

The shooting at the Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City was tragic but sadly unsurprising—especially to local teens.

They have watched, along with their parents, as our city has beat its own records year after year, now climbing to the #6 rank for the most homicides per capita in the United States. They have watched as their teachers, like myself, walk them through active shooter drills in the event that this violence finds its way to our classroom.

The day after my students were in attendance at the parade, I asked them to write in their journals to express how they were feeling. Many of their reactions were expected, some not as much. I wanted to share their words with our city. Perhaps they will inspire real change, as legislation can only fix so many issues.

Real change requires a change in what we are doing—individually, as families, as a community. What we are doing is clearly not working, and we are failing the young people in our community and throughout this country.

Here are 30 of the raw responses from teenagers who attend a local high school. May we be mindful of their perspective and truly hear what they are saying to us:

“I was there.  It was kinda normal. They don’t call it ‘Killa City’ for nothing.”

“I saw a guy get shot in the face and his mouth was just gone—it was crazy!”

“It’s not like I was shocked. We see that stuff all the time.”

“I saw a girl shot and her shoe was laying next to her with all the blood.”

“I feel angry that we can’t do anything fun without something happening.”

“It’s sad cuz [sic] people don’t know how to control emotions and just cause chaos.”

“All those suffering deserve justice.”

“It’s sad that I have to be afraid instead of having fun and making memories.”

“I am sad about what this world is coming to.”

“It was so messed up. I hate that it happened and ruined a happy event. My girlfriend’s family has one in the hospital because of it.”

“It was crazy how fast it all happened. It was right where my brothers and mom were standing, but we had started walking to our car by then.”

“I feel bad for the people injured and the woman who was murdered. They were just trying to celebrate… they were innocent.”

“It’s so messed up. We can’t just celebrate in peace. For real, this is just messed up.”

“I just think all gun violence needs to stop. Guns give one single individual too much power. We need better and safer gun laws.”

“It just ruins everything good. This is why sometimes Kansas City gets a bad rep!”

“I have no reactions because it’s normal in the U.S. now—people shooting innocent people.”

“The fact that children got seriously injured is so damn stupid.”

“The lady that died used to babysit me.”

“What kind of people are stupid enough to do such a thing at a family event?”

“I honestly don’t think it’s a gun problem. I think it’s a people problem.”

“You can’t go nowhere [sic] without being worried that something bad will happen.”

“Yesterday was scary and it really sucks.”

“I feel very mad. No one should have been hurt.”

“It’s honestly sad that the world has come to this, with all of the shootings.”

“I think it’s very disturbing.”

“I have major respect for the people who were brave enough to tackle one of the bad guys.”

“I pray for cousins who are in mourning for their mother.”

“It’s sad to see how cruel the world is.”

“It turned into a day of terror.”

“People love to ruin things. This is not okay.”

What can we do that will actually have an impact on the ever-rising violence? I don’t have that answer.

I can, and have, talked to my kids, my students and my kids’ friends about how to settle a dispute without it rising to the point of violence. We can all do that much. We can give our kids opportunities to see positive things happening around them, and to inspire them to create a better future for themselves.

May our city come together to get to the heart of the issues facing our youth so that we can help end the desire or need to react with violence to an otherwise resolvable issue.