Unfortunately, another school shooting has taken place. On Monday, December 16, 2024, a 15-year-old female opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. The assailant has been identified as Natalie Rupnow, more known as Samantha. She managed to shoot and kill a teacher and a classmate, in addition to injuring six other students, before turning the gun on herself. Officers arrived at the scene to find Rupnow dead with a gunshot wound. The investigation is ongoing, and everyone affected by the tragedy is attempting to recover.
Wisconsin School Shooting
Rupnow was a new female student at Abundant Life Christian School. There are just under 400 students enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grade. She opened fire in a classroom where a study hall session was happening. A second-grade teacher made a call to 911 just before 11 a.m. Police arrived at the scene to find three dead and six injured, two being in critical condition. They are currently investigating the cause behind the shooting and how the teen obtained the gun. Rupnow’s family is reportedly cooperating with authorities.
The Investigation
As of December 17, 2024, Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed that the manifesto spreading across social media that Rupnow allegedly wrote is being investigated. It has yet to be authenticated, and they have yet to be able to track down who posted it. The manifesto originally surfaced on X (formerly known as Twitter) and expresses animosity towards Rupnow’s parents, people, and society. During a press conference today, Chief Barnes said it is believed a combination of things fueled the shooter’s motivation and that everyone was a target.
Police are thoroughly investigating the teen’s online presence and her relationships with friends, family, and boyfriend. They are looking at the teen’s technology devices to determine any signs or reasoning in her communications with others. Additionally, they are trying to determine whether there was negligence on her parent’s part, but Chief Barnes does not believe that to be the case.
Wisconsin Gun Laws
Gun laws in the United States are considered to be a joke. Far too many shootings take place for it to be called otherwise. Everytown For Gun Safety assesses the laws in every state, gives them a report card, and ranks them based on strength. Wisconsin has boosted its ranking since last year and is now #21 in the country for gun law strength. They report that, on average, over 700 people die a year due to gun violence in the state. Wisconsin has yet to pass laws that require background checks for all gun sales. However, they passed a law preventing public carry in K-12 schools, but somehow Rupnow managed to bring one to school.
Final Thoughts
The tragedy in Wisconsin adds one more to the long and unnecessary list of school shootings of 2024 in the United States. It is horrific that parents, students, teachers, and other faculty have to live every day in fear just by going to school or work. We should not have to board our schools with bulletproof windows and doors or have metal detectors at every entrance. Things do not have to be this way; change is possible. People are tired of hearing the phrase ‘thoughts and prayers.’ They want action and are calling on Congress to do something about the gun laws in America.
In a statement issued by The White House, President Joe Biden said, “Today, families in Madison, Wisconsin, are grieving the loss of those who were killed and wounded at Abundant Life Christian School. It’s shocking and unconscionable. We need Congress to act. Now.” He ends his statement with, “We can never accept senseless violence that traumatizes children, their families, and tears entire communities apart.” President Biden is right in the sense that gun violence is senseless violence. There is no reason anyone should walk into any building or on any sidewalk and be afraid of being shot.
