AJ Bloomfield

In recent years we have seen an escalated number of school shootings across our nation. This has been met by a push for more inclusive gun restrictions, preventing the sale of semi-automatic weaponry and other weapons that can be used to kill many individuals in a very brief period of time. However, Congress would have an easier time banning AR15s than it would attempting to ban the most recent weapon used on a school campus.
On Monday, September 12th, a female student at a local boarding school and military academy called the police in response to a gunshot she heard near the dorms. The school went on lockdown around 6:00 pm. Police arrived and the school was surrounded, many officers having their weapons drawn. Helicopters filled the air, streaming live footage of the showdown with the gunman. However, their stakeout was unsuccessful, as no trace of an armed individual was found. Or arms. Or a single bullet casing. This is because we have now seen the first occurrence of the weapon used to fire shots at a school. Bubble wrap.
This advanced form of weaponry can have carry  hundreds of rounds of ammunition. It can be fired one at a time, in short bursts, fire multiple times simultaneously, or even, if the wielder is skilled, in a continuous stream of shots. This weapon is very difficult to regulate, as it is frequently used for many legal uses, such as in the packing and shipping industries. It does not require identification at popular stores such as Staples, Officemax, and Target, and can be bought for a very cheap price. $10 can buy you over 8,600 rounds of preloaded ammunition. Until Congress can pass a law that prevents people from using these high-capacity weapons, especially at schools, we cannot hope for a safer country and, even more importantly, a safer learning environment. However, the thought of a ban on bubble wrap is met by great opposition, including the NBWA (National Bubble Wrap Association). These individuals believe that it is their 2nd Amendment right to carry weapons of this caliber. In addition to this, some lobbyists believe that, in the event of a national bubble wrap ban, criminals would still be able to get their hands on it, along with other deadly weapons.
This could spark a bubble wrap school shooting spree. Since there are no current rules or regulations on who can purchase or use bubble wrap, anyone could experience the thrill and hysteria of a school shooting without the risk of any criminal prosecution or even a fine. Unlike shooting ranges for guns, there are not safe places where bubble wrap may not be used. The weapon does not register on metal detectors, making airport security an issue as well.
Perhaps we need better legislation preventing the sale of weapons with more than 12 cartridges, bullets, or bubbles. Perhaps we need to prevent these weapons from being sold at all. Perhaps we need to better educate the public on what to do when a bubble wrap pop is heard. Perhaps we should ban conventional bubble wrap all together and only allow
non-popping bubble wrap. Non-popping bubble wrap, while it is significantly less fun, it is safer for our nation’s children. We must unite as a nation to prevent the sale of this dangerous weapon and prevent crazed attackers from being able to burst their bubbles.