"There're so many. It's like, I can't believe there's another one."
Retired middle school teacher Norma James is referring to school shootings.
This year, there were more school shootings and more deaths from those shootings recorded than any other year in the U.S.
One of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary School. That was six years ago Friday.
James remembers finding out about that shooting while coming back from a field trip with her students.
"We had this real moment of dissonance where your kids are singing and so excited after having a big trip, and you're reading the most horrible thing you can imagine," she said.
In 2012, 26 people died on that tragic day in Connecticut. It marked one of 18 school shootings that year.
In 2018, 96 shootings in schools were recorded.
The Center for Homeland Defense and Security recorded those numbers based on publicly available data. These totals also include accidental shootings, suicides, and cases where no one was killed.
While gun violence is becoming more common, a group called Moms Demand Action isn't slowing down on their goal to stop these deaths.
"Every year we come together to remember those lost to gun violence on that day," said Kendra Straub, co-leader of the East Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action.
The group formed the day after the Sandy Hook shooting. A mom didn't want to see that type of tragedy happen again, so she started making change.
"Those who say nothing has happened since Sandy Hook haven't been paying attention," said Straub.
Straub and other local advocates are meeting with legislators, supporting campaigns and pushing for a change so school shootings will stop.
"We're building a movement that has lasting power for what needs to be a marathon, not a sprint," she said.
This year's mass school shootings in Florida and Texas, Straub said, only prove the need for a nationwide change.
"You're no longer just worried about whether somebody's gonna fall at recess or get in a fight, you have to worry about outsiders coming in and hurting children," she said.
Dozens gathered in Knoxville on Thursday night for a memorial for the Sandy Hook Shooting. All victims of gun violence were remembered, with candles lit, and letters written to legislators demanding change.
It was an emotional night for many.
"I'm confused, I'm angry, I'm lonely, I'm hurting," said one attendee tearfully at the podium.
But this is a group who will move forward, remember those lost, and work to stop adding to that list of victims' names.