Research Paper On Mass Shootings

Mass shootings have been a prominent part in American history ever since the events of Sandy Hook – particularly, mass shootings within a school building. Lack of regulation and appropriate control has allowed for those with ill intentions to purchase a gun without any delay, walk into a school unopposed, and open fire on those that most require our protection and care. Despite this cycle of violence repeating time and time again, little has been done to significantly combat the danger of gun violence and its effect on our youth. Steps must be taken to ensure students receive an education without fear of being the next casualty – namely, the removal of guns from the surrounding area.
The events of the Majory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting

in Parkland, Florida, have left politicians scrambling to find a solution amidst constant pressure from activists and survivors alike. Some ideas, though meaning well, would do little to change the danger and fear that has taken ahold of the modern school system. For example, the ban of bump stocks and slightly improve background checks would, maybe, make some difference – however, with or without bump stocks or background checks, those who wish to commit these actions will do so regardless. German Lopez, author of the article “I’ve Covered Gun Violence... The Solutions Aren’t a Big Mystery” cited his ethos as a journalist who has covered many mass shootings to say that, to fix the problems with guns that plague schools, confiscation of weapons should be considered. Countries beyond the U.S have been able to boast lower amounts of firearm homicides due to their strict gun control laws. He believes that, if guns were confiscated, we would see a steep decrease in danger to both schools and the community. The ultimate school safety countermeasure to gun violence is the abolishment of dangerous guns altogether.
Julie Turkewitz of the New York Times has seen the increasing pressure being placed upon politicians as the country demands gun control to be implemented to prevent another massacre within school grounds. Survivors of the Parkland Shooting, all of which forced to witness the reality of a country without strict boundaries, had spoken with representatives from both sides of the political spectrum to address the issue. All of them had recognized the ultimate solution that seems obvious yet so adamantly discredited by Congress – lowering the availability of guns that could easily lay waste to innocent civilians. Refusing to take blame for the increasing violence and destruction, they focus on the person whether than the weapon that had given them the power. Source C, a photo with the words “School Safety: A Shared Responsibility” explains why such obvious deflection is insulting to the American student body. Adults and children alike must share the responsibility of keeping a school safe and friendly – it is not meant to be fought for by children alone. And yet, the most vocal of the activists asking for gun control are the very youth Congress swore to keep safe.
Some may say that gun control would do nothing to prevent the deaths of countless. Many believe that those who would do harm to others would find a way to do so regardless of whether guns are readily available. This however, has proven to be false through research of countries similar to ours. Canada, our neighbor, has six times less gun homicide than America. Germany has over sixteen times less. This can only be thanks to the stricter gun laws they have enacted that we lack. It’s unreasonable to expect gun violence to be completely eradicated from gun control, especially considering how determined some citizens are to keep them, but it would make us appear less violent and chaotic than we may seem from the news.
The best security measure that could be implemented into school safety is the complete confiscation of military weapons. The patterns of violence that we see now infecting our school system is in part attributed to the availability of dangerous weaponry. This can go on no longer – as one, we must take a stand against the destructive tendencies of those who wish to cause us harm.