Allie Kirkman is a sophomore journalism major and writes "AK's Opinion" for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. Write to Allie at aekirkman@bsu.edu.
People are still talking about the Sandy Hook commercial, but not completely for the right reasons.
If you don’t know what I am referring to or haven’t seen the commercial that was produced by the Sandy Hook Promise, here is a summary.
Watch the Sandy Hook commercial here.
The ad, titled "Evan," is a mini love story between the title character and a secret admirer. The viewer follows Evan as he writes on a desk in the library. His writing attracts the attention of another student who writes back and becomes a secret admirer.
The commercial builds on with Evan continuing the desk conversation while living his everyday life as a high school student. He tries to figure out who the admirer is but doesn’t find her until the end of the school year when he signs a friend’s yearbook and she recognizes the handwriting. It seems like it’s going to be a happy ending as he has finally met his secret library pen pal. But everything changes when another student walks in and starts shooting at the crowd.
After you watch it, you are given a crash course after the plot twist on what you missed throughout the video as you were focusing on Evan’s sweet and innocent story. Things were happening in the background that could have prevented the love story from coming to an end. These things the viewer missed were signs. Signs of an evolution of a school shooter that were right in front of the viewer the entire time. Signs that could have helped prevent the gun violence.
These signs included a student isolating himself and not talking with others, watching and reading violent material and getting bullied by other students of the school. Things that happen every day that often go unnoticed. Unless you were paying close attention, you would have missed the signs the first time around. This is the point of the PSA.
It is a very powerful, eye-opening video. I will admit, like others, I was shocked that I didn’t catch the signs. But you know what shocked me more? The comments the video was receiving on social media.
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The video was debuted ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting that resulted in 26 people being fatally shot. The goal with producing this video was to show the importance of awareness in looking out for others in order to prevent gun violence before it happens in your homes, schools and communities. The campaign of Sandy Hook Promise even states: "Prevention is possible when you #KnowTheSigns," yet people are thinking the video is about gun control. This is not the reality.
Open your eyes. Guns do not shoot people. People shoot people. We are not hopeless. If we know the signs, we can help those who have access to guns from engaging in actions that could impact and potential ruin the lives of others. It is our responsibility as students, teachers, friends, families and members of society to pay attention to what it happening around us.
Wake up.
When you see someone isolated and silent, getting bullied in person or online, reading and watching violent stories and videos, say something. Tell someone like a teacher or law enforcement who could do something and help that person who may be showing these signs. Ignoring the problem wont help it go away.
This PSA is a wake-up call. It’s time for us to stop blaming the guns. It’s time for us to blame each other and take the responsibilities necessary to ensure that these horrible acts of violence come to an end.
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