It was shortly after a flurry of mass school shootings, that the media publicized their interpretation to why these events transpired. While violence is prevalent in our society, mass killings seem somewhat unusual. In the essay “There are no lessons to be learned from Littletown”, by Gary Kleck, he evaluates the many excuses to why such travesties occur. It was pertinent for the media to diagnose the situation that caused the massacres in Littletown, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas, so potentially these would become isolated incidents. It would become a hopeless cause, as so many variables came in to place. Kleck illustrates the complexity of finding the reason behind these isolated horrific crimes. There are many factors to why these massacres take place such as; security, gun control regulations, neglectful parenting, and the list goes on. Kleck states, “In a typical commentary, a writer would diagnose one or more key problems that supposedly contributed to the killings, and then prescribe on more solution.”
There have been many discussions about gun security in schools and for at home. Metal detectors have been put into some schools, however this would not have deterred the armed adolescents from shooting past security on his way into the school. It would seem logical that parents would lock up their guns to prevent access to their children; unfortunately not all parents are logical. Lack of security can definitely be a factor, but all security measures have their flaws.
It is speculated that stiffer gun regulations would have prevented these massacres, and that perhaps background checks should be more extensive. Although, perpetrators like the one related to the Littletown murders would have passed a background check, because “killers who plan their murders over a long period of time are the people least likely to be blocked from getting a gun by a background check.” It is also apparent that the killers are resourceful at getting what they need, regardless of the laws that are in place.
It is also unknown how the parents of the perpetrator could have missed any sign that their son was about to commit this horrific crime, however, it is difficult to know what is happening in the minds of teenagers. In most families today both parents work, and are preoccupied with the chores of daily life. Society and the media will always search for the answers close to home; however, parents are searching for the same answers.
There are many unknown answers even Kleck a professor of Criminology searches for the reasons, so hopefully these tragic events will never reoccur. Kleck’s “purpose of the essay is not to sort out which diagnoses are correct. Many of them are plausible, and some are probably even accurate.” Only the perpetrator knows why he committed the crime, and every perpetrator has evolved from different circumstances.
Do you believe that these school shootings would be prevented by putting the same gun regulations in place that we have in Canada?
No, the problem goes beyond gun control. It may be harder to acquire a gun in Canada, but it is not impossible.
ReplyDeleteGood question, I think it might make it more difficult, but usually the weapons used in these types of scenarios are obtained illegally anyway (fully automatic) but its a start.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that it would preventmass shootings because the student's who commit them are so set on doing it that they would find some way to get there hands on a gun. I do however believe that putting strict gun regulations in place in the states would prevent a lot of "ordinary" violence.
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