Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the shootings at Coloumbine High School in Colorado that killed 12 students and 2 teachers as well as the two shooters themselves. As we are high school students now, it is impossible to remember what life in high school was like pre-Columbine, but here is something to think about... when the school does a lock-down drill it is called Code 99 because Columbine occured in 1999. So much has changed in terms of security in schools in just 10 years. There are metal detectors in many urban schools and video surveillance on campuses across the country. Security has been amped up, but is it enough?
Yes, it is true that one could argue that it violates the students right to privacy when lockers are searched or we are video-taped in the hallways, but should that right take prescedence over safety? Unfortunately, violence in schools has not stopped. This spring it will have been two years since the Virginia Tech killings of 23 students. Is there a way to stop such acts, or will there always be that one kid who is bent on destruction? Can psychologists predict who the next perpetrator will be? Will stepping up gun restrictions and laws help, or simply anger the NRA? These are very difficult problems when dealing with the safety of children. Any thoughts?
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5 comments:
As much as the second amendment guarantees our right to bear arms, i feel the people's safety prevails over that right. I know people say guns are bought to protect themselves, but i see guns as more of weapons than protection. And the numerous school shootings prove that. We hear more about the destruction guns cause than the protection it gave. One gun cost 23 lives; i think that's a gamble to big to take, no matter how strong the protection argument is.
Well, the second amendment's right to bear arms was written to support state militias in the times of our founding fathers. I believe that we need stronger regulation, but i cannot see any improvement in what concerns to this matter any time soon. If any improvement is done, i believe that there would have to be another tragedy, and the gun control movement would have to start in the state governments.
I believe that while all of the regulations and rules that we have to and have to follow in high school may seem ridiculous, they are unfortunately necessary and extremely important for our safety. While the Columbine massacre provoked much debate regarding gun control laws and the availability of firearms in the United States, we must also focus on the other causes of this horrible event. These causes include: the nature of high school cliques, bullying, as well as the role of violent movies and video games in American society. I think that being teenagers in high school it is sometimes so east to be hurtful to others and to lose track of the things that are really important.
I feel that all those safety precautions that are being taken are good choices and good things. they all help improve education and the learning environment, but i feel that the most important way to end violence like those at school is to let students know that speaking out is one of the best ways to stop violence.
I agree with Aly and Selina. The root of the problem is the mental health of the student, not how they are getting these weapons. People who are determined to commit acts of violence will not be thwarted by stricter regulations of guns. The mental health of students is the key to being safe. I think that schools need to focus less on trying to catch kids on tape, which really who watches, and more on the kids who are flying under the radar. I think that if the district ever gets rid of our counseling staff or any other school's then there will be an increase in violence. The needs to be an increase in counselors and peer helpers to give support and guidance to those who contemplate suicide, mass shootings or any type of violence.
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