Will Gun Bans Stop School Shootings?
The recent school shooting in Germany has once again placed many issues in the forefront of the news. We hear people talk about hand guns. We hear people talk about violence. Video games are also being mentioned. Then there is bullying. Psychiatric problems. And so on.
I have to admit, though, that amidst all the talk, the issue of weapons – guns in particular – is very much being highlighted. If you take the time to read through the vast array of news articles about the Winnenden shooting and then go through the reader comments as well, you will also see this point. A lot of people are pointing at guns, their use, and the rules governing their use as a major reason for school violence and shootings.
While we cannot deny the fact that guns are an inherent part of the problem, I cannot find myself totally agreeing with the idea that with gun bans, school violence will come to a full stop. For one, who is to say that guns cannot be acquired through illegal means? While it is true that a gun ban would make it more difficult for people to acquire guns, there will always be a black market in existence, where anyone with the right contacts and enough money can go to.
Another reason that I am not fully convinced about gun bans being the most effective solution to stopping school violence is the fact that with or without guns, school children can find ways to engage in violent behavior if they have the inclination to do so. While guns could be one of the most effective weapons to start violence, they are not the only weapons. There are knives, homemade bombs, and so on.
This brings me to my main point – the solution does not lie in gun bans and other similar endeavors. These are only weapons. They are only tools used to express the feelings and thoughts of troubled children. I believe that the root of the problem is within these children. Deal with those inner problems and there will be no need for them to resort to guns and other weapons to be heard.
Again, while it is a noble cause to work out solutions to prevent violence by focusing on guns and other security measures, I think that we would all be better off looking at the root – the children, their environment, their families, and their upbringing.
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Posted on March 13th, 2009 by Deborah J Thomas
Filed under: College, High School, K-6, Parents, People Involved, School Safety Issues, Security, Shootings, Social skills, Students, Violence
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