Gun violence has been the center of grief and tragedy for so many. With multiple mass shootings around us, gun regulations came into debate. Questions were raised, concerns were heard, and nothing was done. Politics is backed by the NRA, therefore, sides have been chosen. Some say it is Democrats vs. the Republicans. Others quote the Second Amendment of the Constitution for “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms.”

Mental health is taken into consideration once it was publicly known that the shooter was not “right in the head.” It has become almost desensitizing for people to take in the news of a new shooting whether it be at a school, a concert, or even a nightclub.

On February 14, 2018, a mass shooting had taken place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where 17 students were killed, and some were left hospitalized. This horrific event led to a “March for Our Lives” rally in Washington D.C. to protest for gun reform. It was a worldwide spectacle as we heard stories from people who had been affected by guns and had celebrities that were speaking out on stage.

As conversations have been building up for years, one show thought it would get really honest about the shootings. South Park returned to Comedy Central with its 22nd season. The episode titled “Dead Kids” became quite the trending topic on Wednesday night. The show featured a string of shootings that have taken place at South Park elementary school to which the town becomes numb to it. Even the students continue on with the day as if it was normal. One particular scene sums up the situation: “Shooter down,” says a police officer outside the classroom. Says the teacher, “Now, let’s move on to the next equation.”

Stan’s mother, Sharon Marsh, seems to be the only one who is speaking up about what has happened while the people around her just watch. Eventually, she succumbs to silence. As the ending scene reveals a phone call that Stan has been shot, Sharon says, “It’s not the end of the world.”

Comedy Central’s Twitter account has released a little, but important scene.

It's time to tackle the big issues. #SouthParkpic.twitter.com/4hrYyRz9ma

— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) September 27, 2018

South Park is no stranger to controversial topics. This episode has set the tone for what could happen next for the community and whether they want to tackle these issues.