School Shootings

Introduction
The social issue that I have chosen for the essay is based on the mass shootings or gun violence that have happened in some schools and colleges in the United States, its effects on the gun rights and issues based on the 2nd Amendment. I found this topic to be interesting because in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, the issue on the banning or control of gun ownership by the public is being strongly debated. Some claims that the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution which is stated as “A well regulated media regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” (Cornell University Law School) clearly mentions
the freedom of gun ownership while some argues that it is not meant for the individual publics. With the recent shooting and those preceding that, the number of incidents has been gradually increasing and the attitude towards gun culture of the citizens is becoming more lenient and the focus is highlighted on the gun control measures as to whether it would being a possible remedy.
This issue is considered a problem because it affects an individual or the society as a whole either directly or indirectly and is viewed as undesirable. A social problem cannot be defined in an absolute definition since the element of being a social issue depends on the interpretation, understanding and norms of the individual or the community and society. Another reference states that there are two forms of social problems- objective element which deals with the social condition that is already in existence while the subjective element deals with the social issues that a particular segment of the society considers it harmful but which “should and can be changed” because it decreases the quality of life (Mooney, Linda. A, Knox, David, Schacht, Caroline pp. 3)
Historically, the issue of mass shooting has prevailed in the society and one of those tragic incident dates back to the year 1927, Bath School disaster of 1927. In this, a farmer named Andrew Kehoe killed 44 people and wounded 58 more when he blew up a school in Bath Township situated near Lansing in Michigan (Albom, Mitch. 2012). Another incident is the Virginia Tech massacre where Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at the institute shot and killed 32 and wounded 17 on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. In fact this shooting happened in two separate attacks and is labeled in the US history as the deadliest shooting incident by a single gunman. The most recent shooting is the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut on the morning of December 14, 2012.
The shooter was a 20 year old Adam Lanza who was responsible for the massacre that led to the killing of 20 children and six adults (staff members) and him. It was stated that he had killed his mother, Nancy Lancy before grabbing the three guns from his house for the shooting. Reports indicated that Adam had some altercations with the school staff the previous day which might have provoked him. It has been stated that the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting is the 12th school mass shooting in the US and the second deadliest school shooting massacre after the Virginia Tech
tragedy.
This brings to the question of whether our society feels safe anymore, whether parents feel secure about sending their kids to schools without fearing such attacks again. Should there be a ban in the ownership of guns or should the 2nd Amendment be repealed? In fact, in the United Kingdom, owning of handguns by the public was banned after the Dunblane School Massacre at Dunblane, Scotland. Can the states in America follow the same or this does not matter because of the notion that such evil acts would still exist in the society as it had throughout history. It has now become a social issue because many still believe that such evil acts like mass shootings, gun violence or murders and injuries related to firearms should somehow be controlled and that there can be a remedy for that. And they consider the remedy could be brought about by adopting new gun control measures and policies. However, on the other hand, there comes an argument as to whether these policies especially like banning of firearms would remedy the issue as most of the weapons used in the above mentioned incidents were obtained legally or bought by registered buyers. Another issue is the loopholes where there is no background checks conducted as amended by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act even though it is mandatory and still allows felons to purchase firearms illegally. Between 1994 till 2004, the government had prohibited the use of magazines of high capacity and assault weapons which was later allowed to expire by the Congress.
According to the Journalistsresource.org, although the FBI data shows that the rate of violent crimes has declined since 1992, murders, deaths and injuries caused by firearms claims more than half of the 15,000 lives that are lost each year to violent crimes (Wihbey, John, 2013) A study conducted by Harvard and UCLA in the Journal of Trauma found that homicide in the United States had rates were 6.9 times higher as compared to similar high income nations and firearm related homicide was 19.5 times higher. And this is highest among those between the age group of 15 to 25 years with a rate of 42.7 times higher. According to a journal published in the Internal Medicine(2013), from the American Medical Association, part of which studied the relationship of homicides and suicides with that of firearms across the 50 US states found that those states with more or stricter gun control laws had lower rate of homicide or suicide caused by using firearms (Weigel, Margaret, 2013). However, they also noted that it did not conclude whether the strict laws were the reason behind the law fatalities.
Currently this social issue of gun violence has affected parents mostly and society as a whole as to whether any place is safe and secure for their children, especially in schools and colleges. Particularly with the incidents of mass shootings at schools and colleges, children of ages 6-7 were the victims and therefore one cannot stop but wonder if we have reached to the point where every school should have armed security at all times and admit students according to the level of gun-wielding security (Albom, Mitch. 2012). Many Americans still believe that owning guns are part of their birthright and a nation’s heritage. However, after the shooting in Newton, Connecticut, many have shifted their opinions in support of gun control measures and restrictions, according to public polls conducted by New York Times/ CBS poll as well as a survey reported by The New England Journal of Medicine (Journalists Resource.org). States like Washington DC have banned handguns and those who had were required to keep them locked or disassembled. Other states have similar or stricter laws concerning this policy. For instance, in Connecticut, it requires permits for handguns while not for rifles and shotguns and is illegal to be owned by any person who is charged of felony or convicted of a serious juvenile offence
According to the functionalists, gun violence can be viewed as a response to the social control where it shows that there are failures or loopholes in the social control process. It would also mean as an outcome of stress or mental issues or for resolving issues. Others would also mean bringing social stability or even poor parenting skills that led their children to attempt such violent acts.
Conflict perspective would highlight it as a way of managing and solving conflicts and resort to violence especially when there is no support or any mechanisms to handle these conflicts. As such, some people might decide that using a firearm or gun to harm the other would bring about the resolution (Blume, Thomas W. 1996).
Interactionist perspectives would view it as a way of achieving social identity, obtaining justice for something that was not met earlier and to compel or deter other people and all these are interpreted as aggressive personality or behavioral social interactions (Wilkinson, Deanna L &Fagan, Jeffrey p.55)

There are no possible solutions to this social issue since the relationship between gun violence and implementing gun regulations and restrictions or mental illnesses are not directly related or proven even though studies have provided a fair share of results. There needs to be a general framework in understanding and undergoing further researches since this is a very complex issue that needs a broad and detailed study. In order to determine a possible solution, this empirical research should be well assessed with enough data and analysis based on real findings which could be turned into an elusive matter (The National Academies Press, 2004) Few solutions I would like to propose in order to provide some remedy which also proposals were made by President Obama on 16th January 2012 (Bjelopera, Jerome P. et al) a. Checking and closing the loopholes of background checks: An advantage of this would be the ability to keep a database of legally issued firearms and avail information on registered buyers. It would also check and control the loopholes where people can easily avail firearms in the black market without registration of with fake information. However, this would mean the availability of obtaining the firearms legally which could also be used as the weapon of violence just like the recent Sandy Hook elementary Shooting and therefore cannot control violence. Those working behind masks and in the black markets will be at the losing end while the firearm manufacturing or selling companies, government and citizens would be at the winning side. b. Banning of ‘assault weapons’ and high capacity magazines: This would mean lesser chances of the shooter to go on a violence spree with several rounds of magazines and in fact, the public do not necessarily require such weapons for protection. It would lead to a modification of the 2nd amendment of the US constitution without actually infringing it (Voeten, Erik, 2012). Another advantage could be the possible decline in firearm related violence when there are such restrictions. A disadvantage would be that it does not necessarily prove the decrease in gun violence and the ban does not serve as a rationale limiting the rights of the public of possessing them. c.
More security measures at school, colleges and public places: This can be achieved by educating about security measures, maintaining high alert surveillance in the schools, colleges, public places in the community. More personnel can be trained with special trainings to tackle such issues and to be prepared for any such emergency responses with adequate communication system and coordination. The citizen’s gains out of this since with tight security, it would be difficult for those violent plans to take place. However, a disadvantage is that such trainings or surveillance cannot be maintained at such a large scale all over the country at a very fast pace and would need time. Also, the monitoring can be bypassed and cannot assure complete safety. d. Providing more access to mental health facilities: Since most of these gun violence and cases claim the shooter being mentally ill especially those related with stress and similar psychological issues, they can be given access to such mental facilities on time. However, this would provide mental illness as an excuse for the shooter to get away with the incident.
Conclusion The debate on the gun control policy and gun rights is still not finalized and keeps on waning and waxing. However, one thing is for sure that violence caused by firearms is still prevailing in the society and though it is a very complex issue and cannot be completely eradicated in a society as a whole, I believe it is important for individuals to know and understand certain limits and refrain ourselves from such violence. Whether the ban is allowed by the Congress or rejected, as citizens, it is our duty to know our rights and freedom and practicing them with integrity.