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Mom Discovers 3-Year-Old Practicing Lockdown Drills in the Bathroom
When it comes to gun control, opinions can be as varied as the colors in a crayon box, but there’s one thing that everyone can agree on: gun violence is on the rise in the U.S., and it’s a serious concern. Just take a look at the viral photo shared by one mom that captures her three-year-old demonstrating what she learned during a preschool lockdown drill.
Jessica Thompson, a mom from Grand Rapids, Michigan, recently posted a photo of her little one standing on the toilet in their bathroom. “At first, I thought it was hilarious. I was ready to send it to my husband to show him the shenanigans of our cheeky three-year-old,” she wrote. But then reality hit her like a ton of bricks.
“When she explained what she was doing, I just broke down,” Jessica recalled. “She was practicing for a lockdown drill at preschool, preparing for what to do if she finds herself stuck in a bathroom. In that moment, all the innocence I thought my child had just vanished.”
Jessica argues that while “no one believes that gun control is the magic bullet for crime control,” we need to reach some sort of compromise to tackle this issue. “Why aren’t there universal background checks? And what’s with the absence of a universal registration database?” she asked. “Why are oversized magazines available to anyone other than the military? And don’t get me started on smart guns! NRA, are you even listening? Let’s also discuss mental health access for those in need.”
As Jessica rightly points out, “Rallying, signing petitions, and lending your voice is great, but it’s not enough. We need decisive action from our leaders.” The looming threat of gun violence is becoming a part of our children’s everyday lives.
Across the U.S., many schools now conduct lockdown drills, and it appears that preschools are getting in on the action too. In fact, during a conversation about Jessica’s post, we discovered that several parents in the room had preschoolers who participate in these drills. My friend’s four-year-old even told me they do “code red practice.” When I asked her why, she replied, “I dunno, but we have to go in the boys’ bathroom and sit on the floor. Ewww.”
These are our babies—so small and innocent that they don’t even grasp the danger they’re being trained to avoid. Yet, we’re teaching them to hide, crouch on dirty floors, and balance like nervous ballerinas, all because we can’t seem to get our act together about gun control. Is this really the world we want for our children? If it is, then we’ve failed them on every level, and we need to do better.
As Jessica poignantly stated, “Politicians, take note. This is your child, your children, your grandchildren, and generations yet to come… They’re barely three and are learning to hide in bathroom stalls standing on top of toilets. What’s harder for them? Staying quiet for ages or keeping their balance without a foot slipping out from beneath the stall door? I don’t have all the answers, but if we don’t want our children balancing on toilets, we need to take action.”
This piece was originally published on June 20, 2016.
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In summary, a mom shared a poignant moment when she discovered her three-year-old practicing lockdown drills in the bathroom. This incident highlights the serious issue of gun violence in the U.S. and raises urgent questions about the need for effective gun control measures.