Mass School Shootings in America Essay - 1334 Words

American schools became dangerous places at the end of the twentieth century. Children as young as twelve and thirteen came to school not to study but to shoot as many people as possible. Even as these students transformed schools into war zones, teachers and other students did what they could to restore order and to save lives. In doing so, they became unlikely heroes on America’s latest battlefield. Although violence in schools is nothing new, multiple shootings are. According to the 1999 Annual Report on School Violence, the number of such shootings increased from one in 1994-95 to five in 1997-98. Tragically, the epidemic of violence continued, and in December 1999, one television newscast called a shooting in Oklahoma the ninth†¦show more content†¦One such case occurred in Moses Lake, Washington, in February 1996 when Barry Loukaitis killed a â€Å"popular boy who had teased him† (Egan). But he also killed another student and a teacher. Asked why he shot the other two, Loukaikis was not able to give any reason. He said mysteriously, â€Å"I don’t know. I guess reflex took over† (Egan). If revenge is sometimes a motive, it is clearly not the only one. Failed romantic relationships also seem to motivate some shootings, although most romances seem too casual to explain this level of violence. According to some experts, teenagers—especially those who come from â€Å"fractured† families—â€Å"depend more on each other than [on] their parents† (Lore A1). As a result, they may feel the sting of rejection more deeply than they would otherwise. This emotional pain may lead to violence. One such case may have occurred in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Mitchell Johnson listed the names of a teacher and four girls whom he planned to kill, including his ex-girlfriend (Bragg, â€Å"Jonesboro Dazed†). A student in Pearl, Mississippi killed his mother with a butcher knife and shot nine students. Two died, and one of them was a former girlfriend (Helmore). Sometimes, immaturity or mental illness played an undeniable role. Such was certainly the case at an alternative school in DeKalb County, Georgia, where a student gunned down Horace Pierpont (â€Å"Bucky†) Morgan. Morgan—who taught reading, poetry, and creativeShow MoreRelatedMass School Shootings in America Essay896 Words   |  4 Pagesmany school shootings occurring nationwide. It is not unusual to hear about these shootings on television or on the radio. This issue has greatly impacted the lives of young people. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;If you turn on you television and look at the destruction caused from a flood or an earthquake, you may think, quot;oh, another one.quot; Although it may shock you to see the pain and suffering of the victims, it is going to happen. Is that the way we have to look at school shootings? ItRead MoreMass School Shootings in America Essay499 Words   |  2 Pagesnever happen in my school.† This is one of the first thoughts that goes through a students mind when they hear about a school shooting. The fact is though, it can. School shootings can happen at any school at any time. Lack of security is only a small part of the problem. The major issue lies in the low morality of students and warning signs overlooked by administration. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Not all, but a majority of the students are cold-blooded killers. And shooting fellow students isRead MoreMass Shootings In America Essay1327 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 1, 2017 America was, yet again, devastated when Las Vegas suffered the United States worst mass shooting. One man killed over 50 people and injured 527. After he was finished firing from the 39th floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort, he committed suicide. His name was Stephan Paddock (Yan and Park). When most people think of a mass shooting, they think of a terroristic act or someone shooting at a large group of innocent citizens, like Columbine High School or Sandy Hook Elementary School. In actualityRead MoreCritical Analysis Of The Sandy Hook Shooting1328 Words   |  6 PagesOn the morning of December 14, 2012, America experienced its deadliest mass shooting at a grade school and the fourth-deadliest mass shooting by a single person. All of America was left reeling as the details of what t ranspired were shared through every media outlet. Media reporters and American citizens were left wondering about how could this have happened and how could we have prevented this heinous crime. In looking for an explanation the Media emphasized various topics such as mental healthRead MoreBennett Dorton. English 11. 1-26-17.Gun Control In America.1270 Words   |  6 PagesBennett Dorton English 11 1-26-17 Gun Control In America Every time a gun injures or kills in self defense it is used seven times in a criminal assault or homicide; furthermore the main argument against stricter gun laws is the fact that they are needed for self defense. Gun control is a very controversial and debatable topic, and many people have different opinions. In the Constitution, The Second Amendment gives the right to bear arms, but there have been restrictionsRead MoreArgumentative Essay On School Shootings898 Words   |  4 PagesThere has been an average of one school shooting every week in America since the Sandy Hook shooting. On the fourteenth of December, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut, 20-year-old Adam Lanza not only killed his mother in her home, but also twenty children and six members of staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. This was to be the third deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The Huffington Post reports that as of 2014, there have been over 200 school shootings. These have resulted in at least 94Read MoreGun Violence Essay1254 Words   |  6 Pagesthere has been 286 mass shootings in 2017 alone. Some more things to be put to thought is the school shootings and better ways to prevent them. Another key thing to remember is gun control and how it can be fixed. Firstly is the statistics on gun violence in America to show what negative impact it has. According to BBC News there 372 mass in American in 2015. To consider it a mass shooting it has to be a single shooting killing or injuring at least 4 people. Of those mass shootings 475 were killedRead MoreSchool Shootings Are Becoming More And More Prevalent924 Words   |  4 PagesSchool shootings are defined as being a mass shooting which involves a gun attack on an educational institution. The first known shooting in the United States happened during the 1700s. Four Lenape American Indians entered a schoolhouse near present-day Greencastle, Pennsylvania. The schoolmaster, Enoch Brown, was shot and killed along with several other children in which only two survived. There have been hundreds of shootings since, and more specifically there have been at least 156 school shootingsRead MoreThe Effects Of Gun Violence On The Society916 Words   |  4 Pagesmany cases of public mass shootings th at have occurred, with some of them happening in schools. 2015 will now be known as the year of mass shootings in the United States, and this is also the reason why the discussion for new gun control laws has heighten in the media. Sadly, we have all heard about the high number of mass shootings that suddenly occurred during the last five years, but perhaps what really shook the nation were the shootings which involved children. One shooting which took place inRead MoreCritical Analysis Of The Sandy Hook School Shooting1520 Words   |  7 PagesOn the morning of December 14, 2012, a lone shooter entered Sandy Hook elementary school and killed 26 people. This heinous crime is America’s deadliest mass shooting at a grade school and the fourth-deadliest mass shooting by a single person. Throughout the country, American citizens were mournful and regretful as media outlets released the details of what transpired. Police investigators, media reporters, and American citizens were left wondering how could this have happened and how could we have