Brown University Shooting: Survivors Fight for Gun Control

URGENT UPDATE: A shocking shooting at Brown University has left two students dead and nine injured, reigniting fears for survivors of previous mass shootings. The incident occurred on October 14, 2023, when an unidentified gunman opened fire on campus, prompting a swift police response.

Among the fearful students are Mia Tretta, 21, and Zoe Weissman, 20, both of whom have faced the horrors of gun violence before. Tretta was shot during the 2019 Saugus High School shooting in California, where a gunman killed two students, including Tretta’s best friend. Weissman lived through the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, Florida, which claimed the lives of 17 individuals.

As chaos unfolded at Brown, Weissman received a call from a friend alerting her to the situation. “At first, I was panicked,” she said in a phone interview. “Once I knew more and didn’t feel there was imminent danger, I felt numb — exactly how I did when I was 12.”

Both students had hoped their experiences would be behind them. “No one in this country even assumes it’s going to happen to them,” Tretta remarked. “Once it happens to you, you assume or are told it will never happen again, and obviously that is not the case.”

The trauma of previous shootings continues to haunt them. Tretta, a junior, expressed her struggles: “I can’t enter a library on campus alone for fear that another shooting could happen.” She had chosen Brown, believing its smaller size would mean greater safety, but the reality has proven otherwise.

Weissman, a pre-med sophomore, has channeled her fear into activism. As a former president of the March for Our Lives chapter in Parkland, she advocates for stricter gun regulations. “I’m angry that I thought I’d never have to deal with this again,” she said, emphasizing the emotional toll. “Here I am eight years later.”

Both Tretta and Weissman are determined to use their experiences to drive change. “I think the fact this is my second shooting can be very impactful for people,” Weissman noted. “When people put a face to something, they care a lot more.”

The ongoing investigation into the Brown shooting continues as the gunman remains at large. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The campus community is reeling from this latest act of violence, and officials are expected to increase security measures in response.

As these students navigate their trauma, they remind us of the urgent need for action against gun violence in America. Their voices echo a collective plea for change, one that resonates strongly in the wake of yet another tragedy.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.