Dozens of Fresno City College students packed the forum hall for a panel discussion on school shootings and campus safety on the evening of April 11.

The panel, dubbed “Keeping Our Schools Safe” was moderated by EMLS/linguistics instructor Jean Carroll and was composed of four panelists, including Fresno Unified School District and SCCCD trustee Miguel Arias, district police Chief Jose Flores, FCC student Armani Martinez and psychology instructor Mary Ann Valentino.

Each of the four panelists had individual presentations on numerous topics, including safety precautions to take during a school shooting and means to prevent more gun violence following recent mass shootings.

The panelists all discussed numerous reasons as to why mass shootings occur in the U.S., highlighting topics such as toxic masculinity, and criticizing proposals such as President Donald Trump’s support for arming teachers.

“We cannot ignore that men and boys are responsible for over 95 percent of school shootings,” Valentino said.

Flores spoke as a representative of law enforcement, calling the delayed response of Florida officer Scott Peterson in the Parkland, Florida shooting misguided.

“That officer should have entered that school immediately,” said Flores. “Since Columbine, officers have been trained to enter schools immediately. That is 20 years ago.”

Flores referenced how officers intervened during both the Maryland school shooting and the San Bruno shooting at YouTube Headquarters, helping prevent more injuries and deaths.

During the discussion, Martinez spoke as a student representative to which he shared a personal anecdote where he witnessed an old classmate of his bring an Uzi to school,

“He had no intention of shooting it, but he still brought it on campus to show all his friends,” said Martinez.

Arias stated that since the expiration of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 2004, mass shootings have significantly increased.

“My generation failed you by not keeping that ban in place,” said Arias. “The generation before me failed me by not keeping that ban in place.”

Arias said he believes in an assault weapons ban, referencing how the idea that minors having access to such weapons is dangerous.

“A 16-year-old boy is a boy. They should never have access to assault weapons. They should not have access to a weapon, period.”