Soldiers, Firemen, and Policemen all put on uniforms each and every day knowing that they are putting their lives on the line for a greater good. Their friends and families know that they are making a sacrifice as well. We commend them for their bravery and remember them as heroes when their lives are lost.
However, when did common every day positions become JUST as dangerous? Unfortunately, we now live in a world where nobody is truly safe from violence, particulary gun violence.
At any given moment some of our most unsuspecting professionals can and have been caught in the crossfire. We have unbelievably redefined crime and where it should take place.
Here is a list of the occupations that might just put you in the wrong place at the wrong time.
1. Schoolbus Driver- Back in the day, who would’ve thought that this would be considered a dangerous position? Now, you literally need a bulletproof vest to operate a vehicle full of elementary schoolers. Erasers to the back of the head have been replaced with bullets to the front of the chest. When people hear about bus-related fatality it should be, at worse, due to an auto accident, not due to gun violence. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.
DETAILS: Man Fatally Shoots Bus Driver, Takes Child Hostage
2. Teacher- Teaching has always been considered one of the most difficult jobs in America, but, nowadays, it is both difficult and dangerous. Last year we watched as tragic events unfolded from the college to the elementary school levels, leaving faculty members around the country both wounded and dead. Teachers are no longer simply changing lives; They are saving lives as well…literally. Their courage is commendable, but the fact that they are even put in those situations is disheartening.
3. Retail Worker- Seriously, when are all of these mall shootings going to end? They have been plaguing our country! Who knew that a job at American Eagle could be as dangerous as a job at a corner store in the middle of the night? This is clearly a problem.
PHOTOS: Oregon Mall Shooting Victims
4. Student- School is a child’s workplace, so students make it on this list. After all, the death-rate of students in this country is ridiculously high. Its hard enough to remember what homework assignments are due tomorrow. Now students left and right are being forced to remember lock-down proceedures!?!? School was once noted as “the safest place that a child can be.” I’m saddened to say that I no longer believe this “Lean on Me” percepetion to be true. It is getting harder and harder for students to escape the threat of gun violence both inside and outside of school doors. Busy streets, such as those in Chicago, pose threats to students each and everyday. Something must be done when 20 elementary schoolers lose their lives before they even really have a chance to start.
DETAILS: Newtown Residents March for Gun Control
5. Jewelry Store Clerk- Sadly, the sweeping trend toward “all gold everything” has left our nation’s jewelry store employees in serious danger. In recent months, many have been left wounded and killed as a result of a surge of armed robberies. Does high security mean that each of these clerks should be armed with guns of their own?
Should everyone named in this list be armed with a gun of his or her own?
The struggle is real in these streets, classrooms, and stores! We need to do something to protect our nation’s professionals!
