Two years ago today, I was on a Zoom in Washington when my staff interrupted the meeting to tell me we had an active shooter at Oxford High School. I flew back home and went straight to the office of the Oakland County Sheriff. What unfolded that day would forever change our state: The small town of Oxford, and the entire surrounding area, was irreparably changed by an act of senseless violence when a gunman opened fire on his classmates. He killed 4 teenagers, injured another 7 students and teachers, and left a lifetime of pain and heartbreak for an entire community.

It’s important to me that we remember the four students whose lives were so tragically cut short:

Hana St. Juliana was a 14-year-old freshman volleyball and basketball player. Hana, who used to babysit for a friend of mine, had just played in her very first high school basketball game right before the shooting.

Madisyn Baldwin was a 17-year-old artist, writer, reader, and beloved sister. Madisyn was preparing to attend college, and had already secured several full-ride scholarships.

Tate Myre was a 16-year-old varsity football player who excelled both on the field and in the classroom. He was a hard-working honors student who was just coming into his own.

Justin Shilling was a 17-year-old senior who was involved both at school and in the community. He worked part-time at a restaurant in the neighboring town of Lake Orion, and co-captained the Oxford High School bowling team.

Any time a tragedy like this happens, it tears a hole in the fabric of a community. It leaves unseen wounds on the psyche of an entire community. No one in our area was left unscathed – the aftershocks of this senseless act of violence leave a lasting impact for two years and beyond.

But today as we remember the victims of this senseless act of violence, I am also remembering the incredible responses that we saw in the wake of the tragedy: the bravery, the heroism, and the helpers, in uniform and without, who banded together in the aftermath. They provided a bright spot in the darkness of this horrific event.

I am remembering the law enforcement officers and first responders, who put themselves in harm’s way in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. In under five minutes, the shooter fired 30 rounds of ammunition, but he still had rounds left when he was stopped by law enforcement.

I am remembering the 911 dispatchers who fielded over 100 calls in just minutes, calmly using their training to quickly send responders to the scene.

I am remembering the teachers who reacted within seconds to secure their students, making sure the shooter couldn’t enter their classrooms.

I am remembering the medical professionals – doctors, nurses, EMS, hospital staff, of whom we have already asked so much in recent times – who stepped in to provide top-notch care to the wounded.

I am remembering the prosecutors and staff who have been working on this case since the day of the attack.

And I am remembering the students, parents, the friends, the neighbors and co-workers and community members who all stepped up to show that the people of Oxford will have each other’s backs.

When students, babies, are murdered in their school – a place that’s supposed to be their sanctuary – we must conclude that we are failing to provide basic safety and security for our children. The reality is that we’re also failing to show moral leadership.

Just a few weeks ago, an independent report of the Oxford school shooting laid out failures that led to the Oxford shooting. As a legislator, it’s my job to read, digest, and work with officials in our state to do everything we can to prevent another tragedy like this happening in Michigan ever again.

Oxford will be remembered as a town our kids read about in history books, joining a long list of other horrific attacks. Columbine. Virginia Tech. Sandy Hook. Parkland. Santa Fe. And just this year, the shooting and subsequent manhunt at another school in my district — Michigan State University, on February 13, 2023. One of the most haunting images from that day, as I watched the screens at the East Lansing Police Department, was watching an MSU student run across campus, terrified – wearing an “Oxford Strong” sweatshirt.

We had young people who had now lived through two school shootings, and it broke my heart.

Like many Michiganders, I grew up with guns. I carried a Glock and an M4 on three tours in Iraq alongside the military. But I also now have the dubious honor of being the first Congresswoman in America to represent two school shootings in the span of 14 months, so I can also tell you that of all the terrible things I saw abroad in combat zones, nothing has been as terrible as seeing the aftermath of a school shooting.

But two years on, I believe there is hope. Within two months, Michigan went from a state that hadn’t passed substantial gun violence legislation in 40 years to a state that is now leading the country and showing people what it means to actually pass gun safety legislation. Less than 8 weeks after the shooting at MSU, we passed universal background checks, safe storage requirements for anyone who has a child in the home, and red flag laws to remove guns from people who are threatening to harm themselves or others.

Hopefully, Michigan can be seen as an example for other efforts across the country. And I won’t stop pushing for reform at the federal level. As terrible as this is, at some point, so many Americans will be personally impacted by gun violence that we will be forced to make change at the federal level. And I plan to be a part of that change when I get to the Senate.

Thank you for reading.
Elissa


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