So I've lived in the United States for my entire life. I have heard one or two people say that it's kind of crazy how we have school shooting drills, and I'm so used to it that I'm not even sure if it is or not or where I stand. This post is mostly for people who aren't from the US (but nothings stopping you from commenting if you are)

So, if you don't know, in the United States, there are two main types of school drills: fire drills, and lock down drills. These are all required for every elementary, middle, and high school in the country. Fire drills are of course in the event of fire evacuate the building. You start having these drills in kindergarten (five years old). Lock-down drills are drills to prepare for the event in which a school shooter is in the building. We do not call them school shooting drills, but even when having them in kindergarten we knew what they were for. During a lock-down drill, you turn off all the lights, put a curtain over the window in the door so no one can see in, and lock the door. Then, everyone huddles up in the corner while the principal walks up and down all the hallways trying to open every door to make sure they are locked. When I was in third grade, they changed it so everyone finds their own hiding spot because as my third grade teacher told the class, they realized that if everyone was sitting together a shooter could just shoot us all in a few seconds like rabbits.

We always knew what these drills were for, and it was always lightheartedly talked about how a shooter might just come in the building.

Is this very weird, sad, or even crazy to those not raised here? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Edit: Addition of sad