Why is it necessary to use a real gun with blanks in a play, when sound effects can be done another way? Yes, the sound of a blank going off can be very effective, but in this day of digital recordings, are you going to tell me, as a parent, as a human being, that using a real gun with blanks that can injure or kill is worth the realism in a high school play? In any play?
Is there not enough negative realism in the real world without chancing bringing it to another family?
This was real life for one family. It should not have happened and it certainly should not happen again. It is up to each of us to educate those around us that it CAN happen. That is the first step.