NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) -The Covenant School shooting had a profound impact on Nashville, forever changing the mindset of our city’s students.
For one local high schooler, it ignited a passion to fight for common-sense gun reform. And she’s speaking her truth from the State Capitol here in Tennessee to the nation’s Capitol in Washington D.C.
Meet Julia Garnett — your typical high school senior.
“For me, it’s a lot of soccer,” she said. “With my travel and with my high school soccer, it takes up a lot of my time.”
On the pitch is where she finds peace.
“It gives me an escape a lot of the time from school and everything that’s going on in my life,” Garnett said.
She desperately needed that escape on March 27th of last year. The day a lone gunman entered The Covenant School and killed six people, including three students.
“It was really painful to hear about,” Garnett said. “We read the headlines and hear about school shootings in other places, but this was so much closer to home that it definitely affected my mental health.”
Then she turned her emotional pain into purpose.
“I really felt I had two choices after the shooting,” she said. “I could stand up and I could speak out and I could try my best to make a difference and encourage others to do the same and call for common sense gun reform or I could look the other way.”
Garnett chose to act.
She became thoroughly involved with her newfound passion, even speaking at a rally at the Tennessee State Capitol. That speech prepared her for an invitation from the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden. It was a trip to the White House where she was recognized on International Day of the Girl.
Meanwhile, guns continued to pop up in schools all over Middle Tennessee. Since the Covenant School shooting, Metro Nashville Public Schools have seen 15 guns in schools — 13 this school year alone.
When asked if she feels safer in school now than before. Her answer was simple.
“I don’t feel safer. I do not,” Garnett said. “I haven’t seen the results coming out of the Capitol. I’ve seen them ignore pleading mothers who just want safety. I’ve seen them shut doors in faces.”
As she finishes up her senior year at a school whose mascot is proudly holding a weapon, Garnett realizes her gun reform work is a journey, one step at a time and it’s just beginning.
“I’m going to do what I can to spread this message because it’s important,” she said.
We reached out to Sumner County Schools via email to see how many guns were found on their campuses. They have yet to respond.
Julia added 15 other young women were honored alongside her at the White House. Each of them is passionate about a variety of social issues.
They still keep in contact, sharing their accomplishments and encouraging each other with their shared mission of being the faces of change.
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