Argumentative Essay On School Shootings

“This is not acceptable, this is not normal. We’re the only developed country on Earth where this happens and it happens now once a week and it’s a one-day story” (as qtd. in Kemp). Barack Obama, as well as the residents of the once top-notch country of America have witnessed in disgust the well-known, unfortunate phenomenon that has faced the nation since the eighteenth century, school shootings. School violence is arguably one of the most controversial topics in America, mostly because the causes and methods of prevention are debated frequently. The only undoubtable detail is how catastrophic the outcome is. The devastating issue has only escalated since the beginning, causing a frightened view of an alleged sanctuary of learning and safety.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in America, roughly 81,300 nonfatal injuries and 31, 672 deaths each year are results of shootings (Cornell). That is approximately 308 shootings and 86 deaths every day. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting created a tighter control on guns in the United States to prevent similar tragedies. In response to the changed opinions of Americans on guns, Obama proposed a plan for reducing gun violence that included imposing universal background checks on those planning to purchase a firearm and banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. However, both bills failed on receiving enough votes to pass. Within a year of the massacre, only five states had passed stricter gun control laws, while ten states had passed laws that actually reduced restrictions of firearms. Perhaps, if guns were more challenging to obtain by those who are unfit, innocent students could still be alive
School environments can be improved if efforts are contributed by administrators, parents, community members, and students. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conclude that there are three different levels of strategies that must be utilized in order to properly prevent violence in schools. “No one factor in isolation causes school violence, so stopping school violence involves using multiple prevention strategies that address the many individual, relationship, community, and societal factors that influence the likelihood of violence.” Individual level strategies include focussing on emotional self-awareness, positive social skills, and conflict resolution in students. Relationship level strategies consist of promoting positive relationships between students and their peers, teachers, and families to improve youth’s well-being. This plan incorporates parent involvement in both academic and public aspects of their children’s lives. Community level strategies are based on the social environment of schools, including effective classroom management, interactive learning techniques, and teachers that are trained to meet the diverse needs of their students (School). The most effective set of eyes and ears in the school building are the students. The best method in prevention is to identify the problem as early as possible. The potential warning signs to watch for are those who isolate themselves,