The troubling trend of gun violence in high school football stadiums has led national officials to comment on some troubling statistics. Gun violence increases at high school football games, weakening what makes Friday Night Lights special.
Instead of fans jumping for touchdowns to support their local high school, fans have had to run away from the stands 17 times this year alone because of shots fired during games. A recent shooting in Baltimore saw players running at full speed into the locker room as gunshots were heard next to the stadium.
In a story compiled and researched by NBC NewsPeople like Karissa Niehoff, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, are more than concerned about the numbers at high school football games this year.
Even though the season is less than a month old, there have been 17 shootings at high school football stadiums across the country.
“It was sad to watch” Niehoff told NBC News. “Terrible. It’s definitely the worst thing I can remember in 35 years as a teacher, coach and athletic director.”
David Reidman, a criminologist, agrees with Niehoff’s basic point about the seriousness of the problem and the worrying direction the numbers are pointing.
“I would call it an alarming trend,” Riedman said. “Right now we seem to be at the same level as last year, when there was at least one shooting at a football game every week of the season.”
These shootings resulted in two deaths and 13 injuries.
