By June Peers & Hilda Rico Valdez

On Thursday, August 22, Granada Hills Charter (GHC) had its first football game of the season against Franklin High School. Both Hilda and I were thrilled to not only report on this exciting event but to enjoy going to the game as seniors. Both GHC football teams experienced major success, JV ending with a score of 36-0 and varsity winning 22-7. 

However, this success was overshadowed by a tragic event that devastated the entire GHC community.

During the game’s third quarter, a shooting took place near Ralph’s supermarket on Chatsworth Street. A 17-year-old boy was shot in the leg near the store. Wounded, the boy sought help by entering the supermarket. Shortly after that, police cars and ambulances arrived at the plaza

We left the football game mere seconds after news circulated that a shooting had occurred. Some students remained inside the football field, cheering for the team. Upon exiting the stadium, all we saw were groups of students behind us running for what we thought was no apparent reason. We ran too. We didn’t know why we were running, which only frightened us more.

The game continued, but the stadium immediately went into lockdown after the incident. Students were prohibited from leaving the campus for 40 minutes to an hour. Staff members who were present at the scene did their best to de-escalate the situation and ensure the students’ safety. 

“The spectators must have been very scared because you go to a football game to have fun,” senior and Varsity Football player Daniel Battaglia said. “When there’s a shooting, it’s not fun.” 

Students should be able to go to high school events to create positive lifelong memories. However, in today’s society, students constantly have to live in fear whether in the classroom, on the field, or in a shopping center. Many students feel the need to constantly be on guard, especially after news of yet another shooting, especially this close to the school. 

“This was my first ever football game,” senior Mia Lopez said. “I expected to have a great time with my friends. Instead, I was left with never wanting to come to another game.” 

Since the incident occurred GHC has taken more extensive measures to ensure student safety and security, especially during football games. These measures include more security guards being present, metal detectors, and backpack checks. There will also be fewer tickets sold for each game. Administration will also work to ensure it is the GHC community attending games by requiring student ID numbers when purchasing tickets and asking students to show either their ID or SmartPass to enter the stadium. 

According to the U.S. News & World Report, there were 346 school shooting incidents across the country just last year alone. 

It is important to note that shootings do not just occur at schools but in other public places like stores, churches, or neighborhoods. Without stricter gun laws, this issue will only be exacerbated, which means students will have to endure a tragic reality. In this country, practically anyone can get ahold of a gun, and unfortunately, some use these weapons in destructive and irresponsible ways.

Reflecting on the incident, we are immediately reminded of Michael Moore’s 2002 documentary “Bowling for Columbine,” a film that illustrates just how ridiculously easy it is to obtain a gun in the U.S. Moore demonstrates this point by visiting a local bank. On camera, he opens up an account and is immediately handed a gun by the bank teller. Moore explains in a voiceover that the obsession over guns in the U.S. has gotten so out of control that banks are now trying to lure customers by giving away free guns. Though viewers can laugh at this inane advertising campaign, this scene serves as a sad commentary on how companies are willing to risk increased gun violence to reap profits.

It is unfortunate to think that more than 20 years after the documentary’s release, this is still a problem that plagues our nation due to Congress’s apathy toward instituting strict gun laws. We all wanted to be proud of GHC’s victory, but it was difficult to express school spirit knowing that someone had been harmed in the nearby neighborhood only minutes earlier.