Survivors of Multiple School Shootings Speak Out After Brown University Attack
Published 14 December 2025
Highlights
- Two students at Brown University, Mia Tretta and Zoe Weissman, survived their second school shooting during a recent attack on campus.
- The shooting at Brown University resulted in two deaths and nine injuries, with the suspect still at large.
- Both Tretta and Weissman previously survived shootings at Saugus High School and in Parkland, Florida, respectively.
- The incident has reignited discussions on gun control in the US, where 389 mass shootings have occurred this year.
- Active shooter drills, while criticized, were noted by students as having been helpful during the crisis.
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Rewritten Article
Headline: Survivors of Multiple School Shootings Speak Out After Brown University Attack
In a chilling recurrence of violence, two students at Brown University have found themselves reliving the trauma of school shootings. Mia Tretta, 21, and Zoe Weissman, 20, both previously survived separate school shootings before experiencing another attack on their current campus. The recent incident at Brown University left two people dead and nine others injured, as a gunman opened fire during final exams.
A Haunting Familiarity
For Tretta and Weissman, the events at Brown University were a grim reminder of past horrors. Tretta was shot in the abdomen during a 2019 attack at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, which claimed the lives of two students, including her best friend. Weissman, on the other hand, survived the 2018 Parkland shooting in Florida, where 17 people were killed. "How dare this country allow this to happen to someone like me twice?" Weissman expressed her frustration to NBC News.
Campus Under Siege
The shooting at Brown University unfolded as students were preparing for their final exams. The suspect, dressed in black, remains at large, prompting a massive police search across the campus and surrounding areas. The incident has once again highlighted the pervasive issue of gun violence in the United States, where gun laws are among the most permissive in the developed world.
The Role of Active Shooter Drills
As the nation grapples with the frequency of such attacks, active shooter drills have become a controversial yet integral part of school safety protocols. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley recounted a conversation with a student who credited these drills with helping them stay calm during the attack. "They shouldn't have to do active shooter drills, but it helped," Smiley noted, underscoring the tragic necessity of such preparations.
Calls for Change
The attack has reignited calls for stricter gun control measures in the US. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 389 mass shootings in the country this year alone. Tretta and Weissman, like many others, had hoped they would never face such terror again. "Statistically, it’s practically impossible for this to ever happen to me again," Weissman had thought, a sentiment now shattered by the reality of recurring violence.
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Scenario Analysis
The recent shooting at Brown University is likely to intensify the ongoing debate over gun control in the United States. With the suspect still at large, there is an urgent need for enhanced security measures on campuses nationwide. Experts suggest that while active shooter drills may provide some level of preparedness, they are not a substitute for comprehensive legislative action to address gun violence. As survivors like Tretta and Weissman continue to share their stories, there may be increased pressure on lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms to prevent future tragedies.
In a chilling recurrence of violence, two students at Brown University have found themselves reliving the trauma of school shootings. Mia Tretta, 21, and Zoe Weissman, 20, both previously survived separate school shootings before experiencing another attack on their current campus. The recent incident at Brown University left two people dead and nine others injured, as a gunman opened fire during final exams.
A Haunting Familiarity
For Tretta and Weissman, the events at Brown University were a grim reminder of past horrors. Tretta was shot in the abdomen during a 2019 attack at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, which claimed the lives of two students, including her best friend. Weissman, on the other hand, survived the 2018 Parkland shooting in Florida, where 17 people were killed. "How dare this country allow this to happen to someone like me twice?" Weissman expressed her frustration to NBC News.
Campus Under Siege
The shooting at Brown University unfolded as students were preparing for their final exams. The suspect, dressed in black, remains at large, prompting a massive police search across the campus and surrounding areas. The incident has once again highlighted the pervasive issue of gun violence in the United States, where gun laws are among the most permissive in the developed world.
The Role of Active Shooter Drills
As the nation grapples with the frequency of such attacks, active shooter drills have become a controversial yet integral part of school safety protocols. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley recounted a conversation with a student who credited these drills with helping them stay calm during the attack. "They shouldn't have to do active shooter drills, but it helped," Smiley noted, underscoring the tragic necessity of such preparations.
Calls for Change
The attack has reignited calls for stricter gun control measures in the US. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 389 mass shootings in the country this year alone. Tretta and Weissman, like many others, had hoped they would never face such terror again. "Statistically, it’s practically impossible for this to ever happen to me again," Weissman had thought, a sentiment now shattered by the reality of recurring violence.
What this might mean
The recent shooting at Brown University is likely to intensify the ongoing debate over gun control in the United States. With the suspect still at large, there is an urgent need for enhanced security measures on campuses nationwide. Experts suggest that while active shooter drills may provide some level of preparedness, they are not a substitute for comprehensive legislative action to address gun violence. As survivors like Tretta and Weissman continue to share their stories, there may be increased pressure on lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms to prevent future tragedies.
