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Tucson tragedy: Canfield students reflect
By EMILY GIANETTI
On Jan. 8, Jared Loughner opened fire on a small meeting held by Representative Gabrielle Giffords outside a supermarket near Tucson, Ariz. Six people were killed and 14 were wounded. Giffords was among the wounded, shot in the head at point-blank range.
As the story continued to make headlines, several students from Canfield High School shared their thoughts and opinions on the shooting and its aftermath, as well as how it affected them personally. They responded to the following questions:
How do you feel about what happened in Tucson? Do you think the news is making too big of a deal about it, or do you feel it reflects our society’s condition and more needs to be said and done?
Did it make you wonder about a shooting ever happening in Canfield? If so, does it make you feel any less safe?
Kelly Ranttila
Junior
“I think it’s good that all her updates are being broadcast. There’s a lot of people who are playing blame games, and I don’t think the media should focus on that — it’s a waste of time.”
“It wakes you up to the reality that we don’t live in a nice, perfect world. If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere. I don’t feel less safe, I just feel brought back to reality.”
Joe Duncko
Sophomore
“Obviously, I’m not happy about what happened. I do think they are overreacting, but that’s what the media is supposed to do. It’s not unexpected.”
“I guess I’ve considered it. I’d imagine it’s much different when it hits home. It doesn’t make me feel any less safe because I was aware of the things that can happen.”
Allison Durrant
Sophomore
“It is a big deal and it’s important, but it’s old news. Instead of thinking of what happened, we need to look forward and change the future.”
“There’s always going to be that one situation that could happen, but no one knows where it’s going to happen. How safe I feel doesn’t really change.”
Gretchen Scheel
Senior
“I think what bothered me the most about the Tucson shootings was the political response. Overall, it was like the media and our politicians turned a tragedy into a media circus and an opportunity to promote a political agenda.”
“I guess I’ve never thought about that happening here. It just seems so surreal. I’ve always felt pretty safe in Canfield.”
Adrian Slipski
Senior
“I think it really does represent what’s going on right now in America. It seems America is much more dangerous because there’s so much hatred in the country right now.”
“It did make me wonder about if it happened here. It didn’t make me feel any less safe. We’ve been preparing for if something like that happened at the schools.”