On February 14, 2018, a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, claimed 17 lives and injured 15 others. The alleged shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, used an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle after pulling the fire alarm to lure students into the hallways.

The tragedy ranks as the second-deadliest school shooting in recent U.S. history, following only the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. This incident occurred just months after the Las Vegas shooting (58 deaths) and the Sutherland Springs church shooting (26 deaths).

The debate following such tragedies typically centers on three main factors:

• Gun control legislation
• Mental health care access
• School security measures

While these discussions are important, they address only the symptoms rather than the root cause. Isaiah 59 provides insight into the fundamental issue: human nature and its tendency toward violence. The chapter identifies sin – the breaking of God's law – as the core reason for human suffering and violence.

The ultimate solution, according to biblical prophecy, lies in spiritual transformation. Isaiah 60:18 envisions a future where "violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders." This transformation requires both individual and collective change.

Until then, practical steps must be taken to prevent such tragedies:

• Improved security measures
• Better mental health support
• Responsible gun legislation
• Community vigilance

As we remember the victims of Parkland and other mass shootings, we must work toward both immediate solutions and long-term transformation of human nature to prevent future tragedies.

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