The memory of an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas is still fresh in the minds of many of us, especially those who have children in school. Nothing is more heart-wrenching than hearing of a shooting at their child's school or any school, no matter where it is. Parents in Monroe got to see how devastating that can be when a call was made about an active shooter situation at Neville High School on Thursday, September 22, 2022. MPD quickly responded to the call they received and were able to determine that everything was good. Officers determined that there “were no immediate” threats to the school or students. On the advice of MPD, all of the schools in Monroe were put on lockdown for the safety of students and staff, as MPD went to each school to ensure everyone was safe. Rumors reveal it wasn't exactly an alleged hoax at Neville High School as far as a gun was concerned. The alleged story is that a White student brought a gun to school because he felt he was being harassed. The situation was treated differently than when a Black student allegedly brought a gun to Carroll High School.

Parents were relieved that the call was fake but also upset that there are some who seem not to care about the toll that is put on students when there is even talk of a potential school shooting that can happen anywhere, anytime. Parents want to believe that their children are safe in school, but the reality is that it is not a certainty anymore. Just the idea of panic being caused by a single phone call can turn a learning environment into an environment of terror. It happened in Uvalde and many other areas of the nation. We have a Congress that can’t agree on what many are calling “common sense” solutions while still “protecting” Second Amendment Rights without making it a political issue instead of a life-saving issue. Schools like Neville are not alone, as there have been other fake active shooting calls in other parts of Louisiana, as well as other states. Communities in Louisiana that have been affected by the calls to their schools include Deridder, Leesville, Rayne, and Mansfield. Local authorities, including MPD Sgt. Michael Fendall says they “are prepared” for situations like this and are “equipped” to handle threats. The community wants that kind of assurance. Let’s hope that it’s not needed.