188 Shots, 2 Assassins, and a Lasting Impact on American History

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One ubiquitous concern of parents is that of their child’s safety. Parents go through life making decisions that they hope will benefit the child. One of the decisions parents must make for their child is where he or she will attend school. School is meant to be a safe haven, a place in which a child is encouraged to grow and prosper. Tragedy strikes, however, when that safe place is twisted and morphed into a place of fear and anguish. This was the shocking reality for parents of high school students in Columbine, Colorado. Two shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, Columbine High School seniors, entered the school and opened fire, killing thirteen, injuring twenty-four, and firing a total of 188 shots. Although Harris and Klebold committed suicide at the scene, their actions are a living reminder of the possible dangers schools are succumbed to and the necessary precautions that must be taken to prevent future events such as this from occurring. Evidence supporting the motive behind the shooting, a depiction of the event itself, and the aftermath are portrayed in the gripping manuscript, Columbine, written by Dave Cullen. With in-depth descriptions and an unbiased tone, Cullen reveals the mystery and calamity that stupefied many for years—the Columbine Massacre. Columbine provides a detailed account of the massacre, from premeditation by the killers to the memorial constructed in honor of the victims. It is evident that Dave Cullen, the author, put forth incalculable effort when constructing the novel. According to the article “Biography”, “Cullen spent ten years writing and researching Columbine. He was driven by two questions: why did they kill, and what became of the survivors?” (Biography). Cullen has written for The Ne... ... middle of paper ... ...ch and every student’s life. Although the Columbine Massacre was a tragedy, it served as a wake-up call to parents and students across the United States, and will forever be remembered as a significant event in American history. Works Cited "Biography." Columbine Online. Dave Cullen, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. “Columbine Memorial.” Columbine Online. Dave Cullen, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013 Cullen, Dave. Columbine. New York: Twelve, 2009. Print. Shen, Aviva. "A Timeline of Mass Shootings in the US since Columbine." ThinkProgress RSS. Center for American Progress Action Fund, 14 Dec. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Toppo, Greg. "10 Years Later, the Real Story behind Columbine." USA Today. USA Today, 14 Apr. 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Toppo, Greg, and Marilyn Elias. "Lessons from Columbine: More Security, Outreach in Schools." USA Today. USA Today, 13 Apr. 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

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