by David Diaz, ’19
All Americans can agree school shootings are a real problem. The Sandy Hook and Chardon shootings, among others, have hit close to home. Most University School students and faculty are concerned with protecting ourselves from a similar incident. What measures should be take to provide this security?
Not a ban on guns.
California has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, scoring an A- on the Brady Campaign webpage, which scores states from A+ to F, higher grades meaning tighter gun control. However, there have been six school shootings in California since then, one of which has been in an elementary school, resulting in three deaths in total – not including the deaths of shooters. Indeed, according to data from the FBI’s uniform crime reports, California had the highest number of gun murders in 2011 with 1,220. Utah, a state scoring F with the Brady Campaign, has only had three bullets fired in schools – all of which have been accidental discharges with no deaths. Alaska, another state with an F, has zero gun incidents in schools since 2013. At best, there is no apparent correlation between shootings and gun restrictions.
Another popular argument in favor of gun control for schools is that thirty rounds is more than enough to defend ones self against intruders with weapons, and that controlling ammunition is a logical measure to prevent shootings. However, if you’ve never had any practice with a firearm, you are scared and your arm is shaking, or the gun is simply inaccurate, not every bullet will hit your target, no matter how high powered the weapon is. Even if some of the bullets do hit, these bullets will not always kill; a wounded man with a gun can kill you.
Instead of focusing on controlling guns, we need to focus on the fact that most school shooters are mentally ill. If the teachers and counselors at Sandy Hook had given more care to people like Adam Lanza, the tragic events at Sandy Hook could have been prevented.
In addition, University School needs to teach faculty and staff what to do in event of emergencies, and have a personal defense weapon kept under very secure lock and key in a place where students won’t be able to get a hold of it. Tragedy can be avoided if University School is prepared.
We all want to stop these events from happening in the United States and at University School. The most effective way to do it is not to restrict guns.