Stephen King, the master of horror, has never been one to shy away from speaking out on pressing issues, and his recent comments on the tragic school shooting in Wisconsin serve as a chilling reminder of the real-world horrors we face. After the deadly shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, where a 15-year-old student killed two and injured several others, King took to Bluesky to voice his frustrations. As a gun owner himself, King acknowledged the rights of responsible gun owners but pointed out a grim reality: “The second amendment will continue to be watered with the blood of children until the laws change.”
King’s words are a harsh critique of the status quo. The U.S. is uniquely plagued by school shootings, a pattern that has become disturbingly repetitive. From Columbine to Sandy Hook to Uvalde, the incidents pile up, with politicians offering only hollow thoughts and prayers before moving on, leaving behind a society in shock but unwilling to change. King’s comparison is stark: the U.S. has experienced 57 times more school shootings than all the other G7 countries combined between 2009 and 2018. It’s not just an isolated issue; it’s a deep-rooted epidemic of gun violence that only the U.S. seems to face.
King’s message hits hard: the constant refrain of “more guns to stop gun violence” is absurd, much like suggesting a hole in the head is needed to fix a problem. The horrifying statistics are clear — 38 school shootings this year alone, a total of 322 overall — and yet nothing meaningful is done. King’s critique urges us to face the reality that this ongoing horror is a symptom of deeper issues within the nation. If we hope to break this cycle, it might be time to start listening to voices like King’s before it’s too late.