A Gun in Her Backpack, a Call for Help

Another school morning nearly turned into a tragedy in Springville, Alabama. A student at Springville High School called 911 around 7:15 a.m. to report that she was distressed, had a handgun in her backpack, and was thinking about hurting herself.

She gave dispatchers her clothing description, her location, and even the type of gun she was carrying. Police were on the scene within minutes. Students already inside the school were moved to the gym, while arriving students were stopped at the doors. Officers located the girl and secured the weapon without anyone being harmed. She was taken to a local children’s hospital for evaluation, and by mid-morning, classes were back in session.

Law enforcement proudly declared the entire ordeal was resolved in under five minutes. While they may deserve credit for reacting quickly, so does the girl.

It took bravery to do what she did. I am not talking about bringing a gun to school. I am talking about recognizing she was in crisis and reaching out before she pulled the trigger. That is not weakness. That is a moment of clarity in the middle of emotional collapse. Most teenagers do not have the words to explain pain even to themselves, let alone to a dispatcher. She chose to ask for help rather than become another headline. That matters.

So I will repeat something I have said countless times. If you have kids and you keep guns in your home, remove the guns, especially if those kids are struggling mentally or emotionally. Do not tell me the guns are locked up. We have seen too many cases where ‘secured’ firearms somehow still found their way into backpacks. If your child is reaching a breaking point, you do not leave temptation three feet away inside a closet.

Parents also need to start listening when their kids say something is wrong. Do not shrug it off as drama. Do not assume they are just being teenagers. There is no shame in getting your child mental healthcare. There IS shame in pretending everything is fine until it isn’t.

The hard truth is that seeking help is still stigmatized in this country. We tell kids to “speak up” but then mock them when they do. Worse yet, even families who want help often cannot afford it. Regular healthcare is already becoming unreachable for most Americans. Therapy costs even more. Insurance companies treat mental health like a luxury when it should be treated like routine maintenance.

What happened in Springville could have ended much differently. A student with access to a gun was in crisis on school grounds. But instead of planning revenge, she called for rescue. She gave herself a chance to recover. Now it is on adults, parents, schools, and communities to make sure she gets it. Not through platitudes and prayer posts, but through real, sustained support.

Because next time, someone else might not make that call.

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