TimesLeader.com

April 10
Mailbag - Amanda Walker-Serrano

Dear Editor:

In 2007, Virginia Tech, 32 students were shot and killed and 23 were wounded; the shooter committed suicide. In 2006, North Carolina, a father and two students were shot and killed. In 2005, Minnesota, two family members, one teacher, and five students shot and killed; shooter committed suicide. In 1999 in Littleton, Colorado at Columbine High School, 12 students and one teacher shot and killed, 24 were wounded; both shooters committed suicide. The list goes on. These are only some of the shootings within the past three years, excluding Columbine. All were committed by current students in schools or colleges. We must head this warning.

I am in no way suggesting that any of the Abington Heights School District students or rifle team members would commit such a crime, but it is an utter disgrace to the lives lost in these school shootings that Abington buys guns and bullets for their students to use. However safe it may be, we have to remember that intentions may turn and accidents do happen. As the debate to relevance of the rifle team at Abington Heights continues we must review all the aspects, including the danger.

I recently discovered that a student and member of the rifle team had stolen 900 rounds of ammunition last year from Abington Heights. What the student’s intent was with 900 .22 cal bullets I do not know, but this is a terrifying thought. Normally used in rifles, these bullets travel at a standard velocity of 770 mph or 1,125 feet per second which is Mach 1 speed. At these speeds, bullets kill. They are made solely for that purpose.

The conflict between the numbers of people on the rifle team (11 members) versus other sports and its relevance is a valid one, but that is not the issue to be concerned with. Other sports and clubs, whether big or small, do not nearly have such potential danger. A baseball bat is meant to hit a baseball; a golf club is meant to hit a golf ball; a gun is meant to kill. Guns simply do not belong in or associated with schools. We have seen what the mix can do.

Amanda Walker-Serrano

Abington Heights High School senior