schools once safe havens of learning have now become a source of fear for parents and students alike with the recent tragedy in Georgia that fear has only deepened at appalachi high school in Winder Georgia a horrifying mass shooting took the lives of two 14-year-old students and two teachers the attacker also a 14-year-old student used an AR platform weapon to carry out the assault nine others incl including eight students and one teacher were wounded but are expected to survive shockingly the suspect and his father were questioned by law enforcement last year following anonymous tips about online threats to commit a school shooting despite these warnings there was no probable cause for an arrest at the time just months later this tragic event unfolded this shooting marks the 45th school shooting in 2024 and the deadliest so far this year each new in inent serves as a devastating reminder that the threat of violence looms larger in our schools than ever before for the families and communities affected by the senseless violence the pain is unimaginable the loss of lives and the fear of further attacks weigh heavily on the minds of parents across the country as we mourn the victims of appalachi high school the Urgent question remains how do we protect our children this conversation must extend beyond grief it must lead to meaningful change parents Educators and lawmakers need to come together to prevent more tragedies our children deserve to feel safe in school and parents deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children will return home each day we must continue to fight for a future where no parent has to live in fear