History Repeats Itself – A Discourse Analysis Exploring the Voices of School Shooting Survivors, Public Perception, and Governmental Response for the Sake of a Shooting-Free

School and public shootings have been an increasing epidemic in the United States over the last 20 years. We used discourse analysis to provide insights into the conversations, attitudes, and perceptions of public shootings through the analysis of news coverage, magazines, and social media. We found themes associated with growing public despair around governmental lack of response and inevitability of gun violence everywhere, racial and gender disparities of gun violence, and the widespread impact of trauma to gun violence. The results of this discourse analysis indicate how problematic discourse still perpetuates gun violence and trauma in the United States. Implications are also included regarding the importance of mental health advocacy and action-oriented approaches in disrupting ongoing gun violence.