Delaware’s Congressional delegation heard Friday from students concerned about recent mass shootings in schools.
More than 100 high school students from around the First State attended the 49th annual Congressional Youth Conference.
Some students told their members of the Congress they don’t feel safe at school.
Kimberly Condiff is a junior at Hodgson Vo-Tech High School. She said she worries being in a classroom where the door is open or going outside during a fire drill leaves her vulnerable to possibly being killed in a school shooting.
“I don’t like the doors open," she said. "I’m like ‘Close the doors, close the doors.’ Because you never know. Like now we’re more aware of like all the exits and everything, just in case anything happens.”
Students also debated the idea of teachers carrying guns. Condiff said she wants to be a teacher, but she also said she’s terrified by the idea of teachers carrying guns.
“One of my teachers told me, they were like ‘If we were ever like told we had to carry a gun in school, I would quit my job,’" she said. "Because they don’t want to have to have that responsibility. Because you never know, you could miss the shooter, hit a kid. That’s terrifying.”
Other students say having some teachers carry guns would make them feel safer. But they add those teachers should to be evaluated for mental illness and pass a background check.
Many students also pointed to bullying as a cause of school shootings. Students also discussed immigration, activism and equality during the conference at Wesley College.
