Gun violence within schools has increased dramatically over the past couple of decades. The years following the COVID-19 pandemic have experienced more record-breaking numbers of shootings than ever seen before. The year 2022 contained more school shootings than any year since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. The American College of Surgeons reported that “In the 53 years leading up to May 2022, the number of school shootings annually increased more than 12 times.”
The Deadliest School Shootings
The Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999, in Littleton, Colorado was a turning point in discussion about school safety. Two teenagers carried out the infamous attack, killing 13 people and injuring over 20 others before taking their own lives. This tragedy shocked the nation and raised concerns about school security and gun control.
Columbine was only the beginning of the tragic pattern in gun violence throughout the U.S. The deadliest school shooting in U.S. history occurred on April 16, 2007, at Virginia Tech– located in Blacksburg, Virginia. A 23-year-old student killed 32 people and injured 17 by barricading them in their classrooms. He then took his own life shortly afterwards.
More recently, on May 24, 2022, the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. This marked the Robb Elementary School shooting as the “deadliest school shooting in Texas history,” according to the Texas Tribune.
Preventing Future Tragedies
There are many crucial countermeasures to prevent gun violence within schools. An estimated 4.6 million American children live in a home where at least one gun is kept loaded and unlocked, stated by Sandy Hook Promise. These improperly stored weapons are one of the main contributors to school shootings. When firearms are easily accessible, they are more likely to be used in acts of violence. Parents securely storing their guns–locked and unloaded– would reduce the risk of gun violence.
Additionally, studies show that 93% of school shooters plan their attack in advance. This highlights the importance of being aware and recognizing the warning signs before it’s too late. To end school shootings, it’s crucial that when people notice the warning signs or have any prior knowledge of the perpetrator’s plans beforehand, they report the suspicious behavior so the authorities can intervene.
