Thesis Statement: I believe that the solution to school shootings is universal background checks for all gun purchases including private sales. The Problem: School Shootings Since the Columbine school shooting in 1999, there have been 401 school shootings to this day. This includes anything from deaths, or just someone walking into the school and shooting the ceiling. According to the Chicago Tribune, “in Europe, there hasn’t been a major high-casualty gun attack on a campus in almost a decade.” But the paper stated that this is because Americans have a disproportionate number of guns (at least 300 million which is about one per person). 141 people have been killed so far in a murder or attempted mass murder since the 1999 Columbine incident. …show more content…
This background check would be required for every single gun purchase, including private, street and online purchases. The background check is made of that person's criminal record and mental health records as provided by federal and state courts and agencies. These background checks would cover that person's activity and all 50 states. 40% of gun sales are done without a background check because they are private, online, street or illegal sales. 35% fewer gun deaths per capita than states without that universal background check requirement. Cox, John Woodrow, and Steven Rich. “Analysis | No, There Haven't Been 18 School Shootings in 2018. That Number Is Flat Wrong.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 15 Feb. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-there-havent-been-18-school-shooting-in-2018-that-number-is-flat-wrong/2018/02/15/65b6cf72-1264-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html?utm_term=.96b833e99850. Erickson, Amanda. “This Is How Common School Shootings Are in America.” Chicagotribune.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2018, www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-america-school-shootings-20180215-story.html. Everytown. “294 School Shootings in America Since 2013.” Everytown, 15 Feb. 2018,
Gun Control and Mass Shootings in America Gun violence is an unquestionable issue in America, with the United States ranking as one of the worst with both homicides and suicides using guns. That being said, we outnumber Mexico in gun related deaths and among first-world countries we rank far above others in the number of gun deaths, such as England and Australia. Consequently, we live in one of the only first world countries that does not have extensive gun laws and restrictions to gun access. Aside from the countless homicides and suicides by firearm in this country, one particular issue within this predicament is mass shootings, with the most recent mass shooting occurring on February 14th, 2018 at a high school in Parkland, Florida where 17 people were killed. Although, it may seem like an easy fix to just implement gun control laws into our society to eliminate gun violence, but it is important to note that Americans own nearly half of all firearms globally, which is roughly 325 million guns;
One day, one child, one gun, one school. Now, as saddening as it is to admit, we live in a world where school shootings are a part of everyday life, and there is nothing being done to stop them. As most can recognize, most of the media is more focus on what the President is going to say after the shootings happen, rather than focusing on what we as a nation are going to do to stop these tragic events. There have been a few ideas when it comes to solving this issue, and truthfully, most of these ideas will fall flat on their faces; meanwhile, arming teachers seems to be a possible solution. Arming teachers will deter shooters, secure students fears from outside threats, and in the worst case scenario can stop a school shooter before they can commit mass murder.
There are many controversies and theories for explanations regarding school shootings. School shootings have been introduced into American society as almost a common trait. No other country in the world has dealt with this conflict as consistently. They are a trait that was brought about in the mid 1990’s and have escalated to become a common event among society. Statistically speaking there is a school shooting in the United States of America on average once a week.
This article has great viewpoints, use of argumentative reasoning, and shows what truly happens in the hallways of a school shooting. The main person he explains is Eric Harris, who killed over two-thousand students and faculty in a Colorado high school in 1998. He set off bombs all over the school and used a semi-automatic
School shootings are starting to become a norm in today 's world. This is something we can only take precautions for but, we cannot completely stop school shootings from happening. Banning guns is not the option because the shooters are still going to find a way to get their guns. We should not punish everybody for the stupidity of some people 's actions. "At Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado two teens went on a shooting spree on April 20, 1999, killing 13 people and wounding more than 20 others before turning their guns on themselves and committing suicide" (Columbine Shooting, 2018).
Many schools in today’s society suffer from shootings at some point while children are attending school. Shootings in schools are not a new occurrence, and America has dealt with multiple shootings in public schools in which the lives of many children and teachers have been undeservingly taken (Elliott 528). Because of school shootings, this leaves our children in danger with no way to protect themselves. Gun violence in schools is an evident problem, and there are several ways to reduce the number of incidents, such as mental health screening for owners of guns, interconnectedness of communities, and more school funding.
School shootings are a reoccurring problem in the United States. As of 2018, there have been over 18 school shootings in America (Cuddy). However, this is nothing new to us. Every year they are countless reports of school shootings ending in injury or death. It should be obvious that schools are the safest place for parents to send their children during the day, the sad truth is, it is not.
Well since 2018, there have been over Three Hundred. 300. School shootings in America. Just schools. Being lit ablaze but the hail of bullets that people unleash onto innocent people. Humans killing Humans.
A nonprofit group that attempts to prevent gun violence called “Everytown for Gun Safety,” released a statement about school shootings. The organization claimed that the school shooting at “[Marjory Stoneman Douglas High] is the 18th school shooting in the U.S. in 2018.’” (Cox and Rich). In less than three months, there have been eighteen school shootings. This shows that schools are no longer a safe environment.
Informative Speech Going Out with a Bang General Purpose: To inform. Specific purpose: To inform my audience about the causes of school shootings in America. Central Idea: The main causes for school shootings are easy access to guns, mental instability and trauma. INTRODUCTION I. (Attention Getter)
The first recorded school shooting in America dates back to 1764, during Pontiac’s War. Since then, hundreds have occurred, claiming many lives (Galvin). In the modern era, the rarity of these events has been steadily decreasing, which may be caused by the confusion that surrounds gun laws and regulations. The new debate over this issue is likely due to the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. Since that event, about 65 people who have committed a school shooting have referenced Columbine as a motive.
The Vicious Cycle School Shootings Create As school shootings are on the rise, so are students’ fear all across the nation. “According to Everytown for Gun Safety, there have been at least 149 school shootings since 2013, 52 this year alone” (Board). This shows that school shootings have become more prevalent over the years. Violent people who feel depressed, attacked, or alone, may become school shooters. While some feel these may be the causes, others think that accessibility to guns is the number one factor in these attacks.
The school environment is one that has been stressed to be a safe and enjoyable place to learn. However, for many individuals, that is not the case. Students around the world have very unique experiences at school, which can unfortunately become abhorrent. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), and average of 96 Americans lose their lives to gun violence each day (Gun Violence by the Numbers). There are several causes of death by gun violence, but one of the causes that have become a growing problem is school shootings.
Mass shootings are becoming more common now than in any other period in the history of the United States. Some would say that this is the result of insufficient gun control making guns too readily available and accessible. Others would disagree with this outtake completely. They would argue that not enough people had the ability and know how to be able to fight back. They would argue that not enough people have guns and the ability to correctly handle them.
That is double the amount of the previous years and more in nearly ⅘ of the time. That is the exact wrong way to go when you are dealing with this subject. Republicans and Democrats have fought over this issue for years and never have really agreed on the subject, but if the real facts back you up it should not matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican - everyone should agree on this, shootings/school shootings are a serious problem and it needs to be solved. On December 14, 2012 a man named Adam Lanza committed