Gun violence has become a major scourge in American society in recent years, posing a significant threat to international students' safety. Shortly after the Las Vegas shooting, another mass shooting occurred at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Wilson County, Texas.
On Sunday morning, as usual, over 50 worshippers gathered for prayer at the church. An armed gunman barged in and opened fire on those praying, killing at least 27 and injuring more than 30, including a 2-year-old child.
Witnesses reported hearing more than 20 shots from a semi-automatic rifle, causing panic among residents in the small community.
According to NBC, police identified the shooter as Devin Patrick Kelley, a 26-year-old man from San Antonio. He was married, had served in the U.S. Air Force before being discharged in May 2015, and had taught at a Bible school. Kelley died during the pursuit.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who just began his Asia trip, tweeted: "May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan."
The case is under further investigation.
Shootings are not distant threats—they are real and present dangers for every international student. Anyone could become a target. A classmate you played with today could be killed in the next tragedy.
With America's permissive gun laws, the nation's 320 million civilian firearms could be fired for various reasons, and those bullets do not discriminate by nationality. International students' lives are at risk.
While gun control debates are beyond the control of international students, besides condemning deranged attackers and cooperating with law enforcement, every student must stay vigilant to protect themselves in a foreign land.
CheersYou（清柚教育） has compiled a few tips—please take them seriously!
1. Always Be Safety-Conscious
Avoid unsafe areas. In many major U.S. cities, there are "no-go" zones frequented by unstable individuals—do not linger when passing through.
Avoid going out late. Nighttime crime rates are high; if you must go out after dark, travel with others.
Don't dress too conspicuously. Flashy outfits can make you a target in chaotic shooting situations.
2. How to Identify Suspicious Individuals
People acting nervously or displaying abnormal expressions
Those who rush or resist security checks aggressively
Individuals who repeatedly appear in restricted areas
People resembling suspects announced by authorities
Those who frequent large public events suspiciously
Individuals who pretend to be acquaintances or offer false kindness
People whose clothing or belongings clearly don't match their claimed identity
3. Identifying Suspicious Vehicles
Is the vehicle's condition unusual?
Check whether the color of door seams and edges matches the rest of the vehicle—has it been repainted? Inspect windows for prying marks.
Is the vehicle parked suspiciously?
Is it parked illegally near critical infrastructure (water, electricity, gas) or in crowded areas? Are the occupants acting strangely—nervous, defiant, or evasive during security checks or when approached by police?
4. What to Do When a Shooting Occurs
Leave the area as quickly as possible.
If there's any chance to escape, run. As an ordinary student, you are often not the primary target, so your priority is to get away from danger—don't stay out of curiosity or fear.
This is crucial: do not hesitate, drop all belongings, and flee. Once in a safe location, call 911 immediately.
Find cover.
If escape is impossible due to chaos, find cover: drop to the ground, stay low, and use anything available as a shield.
For example, walls, pillars, tree trunks, or car tires can block bullets. However, many U.S. walls and doors are made of wood or glass and are insufficient. Tempered glass, lightweight office partitions, road signs, billboards, and trash cans are not effective shields and can be penetrated easily. While they may not stop bullets, they can provide concealment to avoid being seen initially, buying time to escape.
But if you must confront the shooter, fight back bravely.
When your life is at stake and you must face the gunman, aim to incapacitate them. Do not hold back; use aggressive force. Use improvised weapons, group efforts to overpower, or shout and throw objects. In this attack, a brave local resident near the church brought his own firearm and confronted the shooter, forcing him to retreat and preventing further casualties.
Based on major safety data websites and CheersYou（清柚教育）'s school resources, CheersYou（清柚教育） lists the safest states in the U.S. and their renowned universities (in no particular order) for your school selection reference.
New York & New Jersey
⊙ Columbia University
⊙ New York University
⊙ Fordham University
⊙ Rutgers University
⊙ Pace University
⊙ Cornell University
⊙ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
⊙ University of Rochester
Massachusetts – Boston
⊙ Harvard University
⊙ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
⊙ Boston University
⊙ Boston College
⊙ Northeastern University
⊙ University of Massachusetts
Illinois – Chicago
⊙ University of Chicago
⊙ Northwestern University
⊙ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
⊙ University of Illinois Chicago
⊙ Chicago State University
California
⊙ Stanford University
⊙ University of California campuses
⊙ Santa Clara University (Silicon Valley)
⊙ San Jose State University
Washington, D.C. Area
⊙ University of Virginia
⊙ George Washington University
⊙ Georgetown University
⊙ University of Maryland
⊙ Johns Hopkins University
