On November 7, 2018, around 11:20 pm PT, in Thousand Oaks, California, the first sounds of gunshots echoed through the bar as college students danced the night away at a country-themed event.

Many of the patrons at the bar that night, including one victim, were college students at Pepperdine University.

By the morning, reports of twelve deaths had circulated the news.

Some ERHS students responded to the shooting, saying this is a moment to re-examine gun laws.

Senior Rehanna Barre said that “there is no reason that so many people should be able to be in possession of weaponry who have the potential to do such vile massacres. I also understand that it’s a right, but it’s for the use of your protection, not to harm others.”

Sophomore Demilade Tinubu said “I think it’s sad as a country, we are used to things like this happening. I think gun laws are a needed thing, the process to get a gun should be way harder than it is currently.”

Gunman, Ian D. Long had purchased his .45 caliber handgun legally in the state of California. However, the gun did have an extended magazine which by California law, is illegal.

Senior Teri  Jones said, “I am from California, and I’ve lost family members to gun violence.”

She became emotional, but continued. “I feel that supporters of the NRA are criminals. To support an organization that has served as an accomplice to the 307 mass shootings that have occurred this year is the equivalent to literally handing the gun over to these murderers. Period.”

In contrast, there are students who, though sympathetic, said they have grown numb to the mass shootings.

Junior Oluwaseun Omomo said, “My reaction was wow that’s sad but it didn’t get me as emotional as hearing twelve fellow Americans died should. It just had me thinking once again how America as a whole has been desensitized to violence, we don’t really care as we should anymore.”

Junior Angel Nwadibia similarly stated, “I’m not surprised, which speaks volumes. My indifference isn’t an untypical reaction. This shows how much of an epidemic rampant gun violence is and how ineffective the government has been in rectifying the issue.”

ERHS students are not new to voicing their opinions related to gun violence. On March 14th, they held a rally in response to the Parkland High School shooting that took place on Valentine’s day.