Sandy Hook dad urges UNG students to take action against gun violence

On Dec. 14, 2012, David Cole Wheeler dropped off his two children off at Sandy Hook Elementary and returned to his office for the morning. At around 10 a.m., Wheeler received a phone call that a shooting had occurred at his sons’ school. Later that day, he learned his son Ben had died.

On Nov. 7, Wheeler spoke to UNG Gainesville students with hopes of educating them on gun violence and gun control. During his presentation to students and in an interview with the Vanguard, he revealed his goal to change America’s mindset on gun violence.

“We all act like it’s the first time it’s happened each time it happens. We have to recognize that this isn’t going to go away until something changes,” Wheeler said.

In 2018, as of this writing, 13,215 lives have been taken by gun violence, according to gunviolencearchive.org. Just over a week before Wheeler’s UNG visit, 11 people were shot and killed while worshipping at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. The day after he spoke here, a gunman killed 12 people at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California.

Wheeler believes the power to reform gun control lies in the hands of our nation’s youth. He applauded the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors from Parkland, Florida, for their public advocacy and outcries for gun control.

“The high school kids have finally stood up and said they’ve had enough. They will continue to be active and continue to be vocal as adults. They can considerably bring the change that people want,” Wheeler said.

When equipped with the right knowledge and passion, the next generation will have a large role in stricter gun control policies, Wheeler believes.

“The less they are shocked about the shootings, the more they know about them — the more action they will take,” Wheeler said.

In 2013, the Wheelers and other families from Sandy Hook traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak to senators on Capitol Hill. Their objective was to convince Congress to pass the Manchin-Toomey bill, which would have required background checks for all potential gun owners.

“We thought that was the low-hanging fruit, we thought that was the easy thing to do. And it didn’t pass, which was a huge disappointment,” Wheeler said.

In the case of gun control laws among the nation, Wheeler acknowledges there has been movement in the right direction, but obstacles remain. One is “campus carry” legislation, passed in multiple states.

“Some states enacted much more strict regulations about the use of assault weapons. On the not-great side, the campus carry movement still has some activity,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler expressed his disapproval of the campus carry law passed in Georgia in 2017, stating his personal experience leads him to view the law as potentially dangerous. The campus carry law allows individuals with state licensed permits to carry firearms on a college campus.

“I understand that’s here in Georgia, you can carry on campus. I have yet to see one example of a campus shooting that was stopped by someone else who happened to have a gun. I sincerely hope it doesn’t lead to more fatalities when it so easily could,” Wheeler said.

After reflecting on his family tragedy, Wheeler relayed a special message to the families of the Pittsburgh massacre survivors and those mourning a loss.

“I would say to them it’s important to ‘just show up.’ Just be there when the call comes at 2 in the morning and they just want someone to sit next to them. Nobody wants to hear, in a situation like that, ‘everything happens for a reason,’” Wheeler said.

Wheeler emphasized the sensitivity survivors and mourners require during this time. After the death of his son, many close to Wheeler attempted to comfort him with the “everything happens for a reason” speech. Wheeler rejects that, and says nothing good came from the gun violence that occurred.

“Ben didn’t go to a better place. His place is here with me,” Wheeler said.

Since the loss of his son, each time Wheeler hears news of other mass shootings, the ache he felt years ago returns. The only difference now is that he isn’t shocked anymore. It only fuels his passion to spark the end of gun violence.

“These shootings will never stop until our mindset and conversations about them change,” Wheeler stated.

His challenge to UNG students is to have open conversations about gun control and mental health. Wheeler believes education and conversations about the shootings, gun control and how to care for one another is the best path to a solution.

“Find out how people are and if you see something that raises a flag, say something and do something,“ Wheeler said.

He urges this generation to care for one another and find something good to bring into the world.

David Wheeler beside a picture of his two sons

“Figure out whatever tiny, small thing they can do to make the world a better place, whether it’s in their own backyard or a larger scale,” Wheeler said.