Why Does Gun Violence Often Happen On Campus?

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date of Submission Why Does Gun Violence Often Happen on Campus Introduction Gun violence has increased significantly in schools, colleges, and campus over the past two decades. In the last few years, several school shootings have taken place leading to numerous deaths. For instance, in 1999, 13 students were reported dead in a gun attack in Columbine 23 others died in a similar gun attack in Snady Hook. In the same year, 17 people were reported dead in a similar attack in Marjory Stoneman Douglas. The number of campus related deaths has been going up significantly over the years, thus demanding an explanation of this phenomenon. According to (Lee) there is an average of 10 school shootings per year since the Columbine incidence in 1999. In 2002, there was a record of five shootings while in 2014, the number increased to 15 this being the highest rate. The increased cases of gun attacks in schools and colleges arouse many questions as to what may be causing the attacks. More than 187,000 students have experienced shootings on campuses during school hours. The gun violence experienced by the students often affects learning and growth of the students. The students no longer feel safe in campus compounds. The environment in which the students were born and raised up is a major contributing factor to increased gun violence in schools. According to Skorton and Altschuler, most students who shoot their colleagues were born and raised in a community where shootings were the order of the day. Because of growing up in such an environment, the students grow up with a mentality that the use of guns is a way of defending oneself. Black and Hispanic students are more exposed to gun attacks than white students are. To prevent gun violence, it is important to first deal with the environment in which children are brought up. Over the years, schools have tried to implement strategies to keep off guns from schools, but this has not been successful. For instance, in the case of Mitchell, a student attacked a fellow student and a gym instructor with a pistol. Students were passed through metal detectors one week earlier, but unfortunately, the day of the attack it did not happen. Even with screening of students every day, it has been difficult to prevent gun violence in schools (Woodrow and Rich). Most gunfire violence happens over the weekend and late nights when no staff or students are present. In other cases, it happens during extracurricular activities like football games and dances. The attackers strike when less attention is given to security by both staff and students, especially after the events when students are moving to various directions (Lee). In cases of targeted shootings, it becomes easy for the gang members or attackers to carry out shootings in schools because it is a matter of convenience. The attackers already know where the victims will be and when. This is a planned attack and it is very difficult to prevent (Myers)....