Guns In Schools
The argument for the use of guns in schools is at the forefront of school safety. Every since the Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, on April 20, 1999, educational leaders, parents, and law enforcement agree that guns should be banned from school. Possible factors that lead to adolescents to use guns at schools include bullying, depression, and mental illness. Educational leaders, parents, and law enforcement should pay more attention to adolescents and add more security to all schools to reduce the number of guns used in schools. There are multiple actions that can be taken to reduce the use of guns in schools. Research says, “Reducing the availability of guns and identifying mentally ill people are two main factors that can be
…show more content…
University of Alabama Criminal Justice Professor Adam Lankford proposed that guns in schools are “a bigger problem today than it was a decade ago, and it may be a bigger problem in the future” (“America’s Killing Contagion”). In Columbine by Dave Cullen, no one could tell the specific reason why the boys decided to kill others, but the author described that “Eric was a little control freak” (Cullen 9). It would be hard for schools across the United States to take care of an accidental shooting that could occur uneventfully because of mental illness. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold both had unappealing anger problems, but Eric was more hateful toward others. “Researchers have found some symptoms of mental illness, ranging from depression to paranoia and schizophrenia” (“America’s Killing Contagion”). At the time of the shooting at Columbine, no one knew if either one of the boys suffered from bullying, depression, or mental illness. In Columbine, author, Dave Cullen states that they wanted to be known for “topping McVeigh,” the mastermind of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, who set his timer and walked away, but Eric and Dylan did not top McVeigh and their enormous massacre still made their names live on. As of September 7, 2015, “There is no one diagnosis of mental illness that is linked to the use of guns in schools” (“America’s Killing
University of Alabama Criminal Justice Professor Adam Lankford proposed that guns in schools are “a bigger problem today than it was a decade ago, and it may be a bigger problem in the future” (“America’s Killing Contagion”). In Columbine by Dave Cullen, no one could tell the specific reason why the boys decided to kill others, but the author described that “Eric was a little control freak” (Cullen 9). It would be hard for schools across the United States to take care of an accidental shooting that could occur uneventfully because of mental illness. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold both had unappealing anger problems, but Eric was more hateful toward others. “Researchers have found some symptoms of mental illness, ranging from depression to paranoia and schizophrenia” (“America’s Killing Contagion”). At the time of the shooting at Columbine, no one knew if either one of the boys suffered from bullying, depression, or mental illness. In Columbine, author, Dave Cullen states that they wanted to be known for “topping McVeigh,” the mastermind of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, who set his timer and walked away, but Eric and Dylan did not top McVeigh and their enormous massacre still made their names live on. As of September 7, 2015, “There is no one diagnosis of mental illness that is linked to the use of guns in schools” (“America’s Killing