In America, there have been over 30 school shootings this year with injuries or deaths. This is unacceptable with the amount of upscale technology our world has today. The first school shooting occurred the morning of Oct. 1, 1997, in Pearl Since then, America has seen over 230 school shootings.
School shootings are usually always done by a student that attends the school. This makes it easier for them to have access to a large group of people without being alarmed. No one ever expects their school to have a school shooting, but times have changed, requiring rules and other safety precautions to change. Schools are now starting to have school shooting drills where the school is on lockdown and students and teachers practice what they would do in a case of a school shooting. Yes, this helps some but not always if the person carrying out the shooting is a student that knows where everyone would be. Other actions must be taken to stop these tragedies from happening.
A popular trend seen with most school shootings is the warning signs. Most of the time, just like the recent Oxford High School shooting, the shooting was previously talked about, written about and posted about on social media. Just hours before the shooting occurred, Ethan Crumbly was seen drawing pictures of a gun pointing at the words “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.” The school quickly had a meeting with Ethan and his parents and was told to get him into counseling within 48 hours. The Crumbleys and the school staff both failed to check his backpack and he returned to class, later carrying out a tragic school shooting killing four students and injuring many others. This could have all been avoided had the school placed stricter rules and regulations concerning the drawings seen and if metal detectors were in place.
Students should not have to fear for their lives in school. School should be a fun, safe, learning environment for all. Schools do not have enough time to go through and check everyone’s backpack daily. Metal detectors should be placed at all doors in schools, this way no one could enter the school with a gun or knife. Risky ideas, like arming teachers could make matters worse. An armed teacher cannot, in a moment under extreme stress and confusion, transform into a trained officer. Other consequences include a teacher carrying out a school shooting or a student gaining access to the gun. Some actions have been taken to prevent school shootings from happening. I think the main action that could prevent school shootings from happening would be requiring all schools in America have metal detectors.
