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- Pause. Lay Low. And Play Dead.
by Kiran
Updated: Dec. 11, 2015
Originally Published: Feb. 1, 2013
Recently, while at the gym taking a breather between sets during a strenuous leg workout—let’s be real, it was only intense because it involved actual effort—I found myself pondering a rather unsettling question.
As I sipped from my water bottle, an alarming thought crossed my mind: “If an active shooter were to enter this gym right now, would I have any place to hide? Do I know where the emergency exit is? Am I prepared to play dead?”
It may seem strange, but such thoughts have become all too common in our current reality. I wouldn’t classify myself as paranoid—after all, I’m someone who happily boards long-haul flights, rides roller coasters that make my heart race, and indulges in carbs like there’s no tomorrow.
Back in elementary school, we frequently practiced fire drills. Firefighters would come in to remind us that the true danger from a fire isn’t just the flames but the smoke. “Stop! Drop! And ROLL!” we were taught. We would demonstrate our rolling skills down the hall, arms tight against our sides, away from the imaginary smoke.
Now, I can’t help but wonder if it’s time to teach my kids a new mantra: “Pause. Lay Low. And play dead.”
A Wake-Up Call.
I vividly remember the day of the Newtown shooting. I was at work when I first heard the news online—initially reporting two fatalities. Later, as I walked past the TV during lunch, my stomach sank when I saw the updated numbers.
A colleague remarked, “Just watch the gun control advocates jump on this.” My idea of a ‘jumping on’ situation is vastly different from what unfolded that day and in the subsequent weeks. A field day, to me, is about running races and playing games—not about children being senselessly killed.
“It’s not guns that kill people,” my coworker stated. “People kill people.” True, but typically with guns. Yes, there are various ways to inflict harm, but none compare to the devastation caused by high-caliber assault weapons.
Call me a freak, but first, call me an American. I take pride in my country, acknowledging its beauty and its flaws. Patriotism isn’t about blind allegiance; it’s about recognizing the imperfections in our history.
We must remember the injustices faced by Native Americans and the shameful existence of internment camps during WWII. The beautiful song “This Land Is Your Land” has not always been sung in harmony. Acknowledging our past means confronting the reality of slavery and segregation that has marked our history.
I love this country, but I refuse to ignore its blemishes. The Founding Fathers were not infallible; they wrote the Constitution while grappling with their own limitations and societal issues unknown to them, like the Industrial Revolution or the internet. They certainly didn’t foresee modern firearms or the catastrophic potential they hold.
They could never have imagined tragedies like Columbine or Newtown.
“Don’t take away my Second Amendment rights!” I hear often. But let’s stop treating this issue like sacred scripture. Advocating for better gun regulation doesn’t mean stripping away rights. If the laws are not enforced, we need practical enforcement, not just more laws.
We are at a critical point as a nation. Another shooting is inevitable—it’s just a matter of when and where. It’s exhausting to feel this looming threat. Why does questioning better regulation translate into a perceived attack on gun ownership?
No one is suggesting that hunting or self-defense should be prohibited. What’s wrong with requiring proper training and documentation for gun ownership?
I keep hearing, “People will still get guns illegally!” Yes, but they should be penalized for doing so. We don’t allow unlicensed driving, and it’s not because people don’t do it illegally; it’s because we recognize the potential dangers involved.
Why then, would we allow untrained individuals to possess firearms? The very people clamoring for militia rights are often those I’d prefer to keep away from any form of armed resistance.
What would happen if a gunman burst into that gym while I was working out? I can’t predict it, but I think of my kids, my friends’ children, and my neighbors’ kids every day.
I’m not prepared to teach them to pause, lay low, and play dead.
Something has to change.
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