Speaker Jon Romano Now Speaks out Against Gun Violence Decades After His School Shooting

Oct. 3 2023, Published 12:18 p.m. ET

According to a startling record by way of Axios, there have been over 500 mass shootings in the United States. Of that quantity, 54 of them have taken place in schools in the United States, in keeping with a CNN record. Thanks to lax restrictions on gun protection and rules in different portions of the United States, school shootings stay so prevalent in American politics that some states even offer bulletproof backpacks in lieu of considerable changes to gun access.

As folks continue to weigh the apparent ethical catch 22 situation between having the ability to purchase a gun and children feeling safe in their classrooms, students and school in all places recommend for significant motion in opposition to gun violence in colleges. Among them is a person with some harrowing revel in in school-based gun violence. Having been convicted as a school shooter himself, Jon Romano now serves as a speaker against school shootings. Here's what he is been up to.

What is school shooter Jon Romano up to now?

The incident took place in Columbia High School in East Greenbush, NY on Feb. 9, 2004. Student Jon Romano, who was 16 at the time, brought in a shotgun hid inside a black case. Reportedly, Jon waited in a rest room stall whilst brandishing his gun as he contemplated what he was about to do with it.

Soon sufficient, he brought it out and fired at two students in the hallway. While he aimed it at several students and academics, he used to be eventually stuck by means of an assistant main.

Unlike many of the school shootings we listen about, this one ended with none casualties, despite the fact that certainly one of Jon's shots had wounded a trainer before he used to be finally stopped.

Jon served Sixteen years in jail and was once released in 2020 (just in time for an international pandemic). During that point, Jon was able to mirror on his actions and has since attempted to turn into an recommend for preventing gun violence.

In an interview with ABC News 10, he expressed that whilst he feels as despite the fact that he is modified, he is fully conscious about the trauma he is inflicted.

"I feel like I've grown. I feel like I've changed. But that doesn't matter. That doesn't undo what I've done," he advised the outlet. Since then, Jon has turn into a vocal supporter of psychological well being and has even cooperated with law enforcement organizations to forestall long term school shootings. Among his many platforms and public speaking boards, he is additionally energetic by way of TikTok on @jonseekingpeace where he speaks overtly about his revel in in the aftermath of his incident.

According to Jon, he is saved in contact with some previous buddies from his school who visited him in jail. He's even been open to listening to from former scholars in his graduating class who felt traumatized via his actions.

"I wanna be helpful however I can and if that includes people reaching out and sharing that pain, then by all means, I'm very open to it," he proclaimed on TikTok.

Unfortunately, it's not as though his lifestyles has been freed from violence since he used to be released. In September 2022, he used to be the victim of a sword attack that left him in important condition for several weeks. However, he has admitted that he bears no ill will toward his attack, who is lately serving time in county prison. In reality, he needs the assailant to receive the similar roughly 2d chance that he's gotten.

As of this writing, he continues to suggest for school capturing prevention.

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