Speechless: Members of East Against Gun Violence share their personal stories of shootings and threats

Seniors Eliza King, Lucinda Hendrickson and Janie Hoskins are holding the first East Against Gun Violence meeting of the year on Sept. 4. The club is encouraging students to come discuss gun violence in the U.S., personal experiences with gun violence and ways to garner representative support for gun control in Kansas.

Just months prior, the three club presidents were attending the Humorous Interpretation Finals at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 19, along with nearly 700 other students and 100 debate coaches from across the nation. 

During the final round of the finals, a man wearing a backpack ran on stage, shouted incoherently, then reached into his bag threateningly. 

“Every student in that room [was] scared for [their] lives,” King said.

King and Lucinda, along with the other 800 attendees, sprinted for the nearest exit, terrified that the man on stage had a firearm. Many were trampled in the process and left traumatized, according to King.

King and Lucinda had been planning to co-run the club East Against Gun Violence since spring of last year because of their beliefs in support of gun control. After the club was out of commission since the former president, Eve Benditt, graduated in 2024, they decided to revive it. After the shooting scare, the two decided to begin posting information early about joining their organization on the club’s official Instagram before school started.

The club is focused on providing a safe space for students to discuss their experiences with gun violence and share their opinions on local and national policy changes that should be made, according to Lucinda. 

East Against Gun Violence has also been working with other organizations to garner support beyond SM East, such as East Grandparents For Gun Safety and Youth in Wyandotte County, who help contact representatives about policy changes and donate gun locks to firearm owners. 

“We talked to some of the leaders of East Grandparents For Gun Safety and are trying to set up a meeting with [principal] Peres,” Lucinda said. “[We want] to see if he would help us set up a time for them to come during seminar to give an informational seminar about gun safety for the students.”

Along with the NSDA threat, Lucinda had another experience with gun violence three years ago. Her older sister, Carly Hendrickson, had been shot at unprovoked while driving on I-35. Lucinda, only 14 years old at the time, had to drive to her sister on a learner’s permit after Carly pulled over on the interstate, unharmed from the shooter.

“I was the only one who picked up [the phone],” Lucinda said. “ I had to go pick her up from the side of the highway.”

Being exposed to gun violence at such a young age inspired Lucinda to make a difference. That meant becoming the co-president of the East Against Gun Violence program.

The members of the club have also had their own experiences with gun violence. Senior Makena Pruitt recalls her sixth-grade experience in the Highlands Elementary shooting.

Pruitt was in the hallway when the lockdown began and was confused when she was warned to get inside a classroom.

“I remember a teacher snapped at me to get inside [a classroom] and that we were in lockdown,” Pruitt said. 

Minutes later, teachers rushed crying students into the gym to congregate while there was an active shooter just 10 yards from the school. Pruitt was unfazed, however, remaining wary of the situation and confused about its validity and whether it was truly happening. 

“Everyone around me [kept saying they thought] they were going to die,” Pruitt said. “I remember [thinking] ‘Should I be scared?’” 

The members’ collective experiences with gun violence are what build a strong foundation for the club, according to Pruitt. Students with no personal experiences with the subject are equally encouraged to join, as spreading awareness of gun control, why it’s important and its positive effects, is another goal of the club. 

King believes that despite the life-threatening events that have continued to occur, their persistence in the cause will succeed. 

“If all it takes is a person standing on stage, saying something, then beginning to unzip their bag, it shows how big of an issue this is,” King said.