Understanding and Combating Gun Violence in US Schools

School gun violence has been an ongoing problem in the United States for almost 300 years and has impacted thousands of adolescents. According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), gun violence is currently the leading cause of death for those under the age of 18. Not only is this a prominent issue affecting schools, but also society as a whole. Over the past twenty years, 200 mass shootings have taken place in the U.S., with over three targeting schools. After the tragic Columbine shooting, school safety increased dramatically, but so did the occurrence of shootings. Since a spike in school massacres in 1944, gun violence has steadily been increasing, reaching its peak in 2022 when over 50 adolescents were shot and killed in schools. Gun violence in the U.S. has not only affected millions of people but has also changed the lives of children and teenagers and their future. To gain understanding about gun violence in schools, it is important to know the causes and effects of this issue. Some common causes of school gun violence are typically related to past encounters, revenge, and justice, while a small number of the effects include a disrupted future, impacted mental health, and even post-traumatic stress.

The causes of school shootings are typically related to a disrupted childhood, mental issues, and easy access to firearms in homes. According to Robin Kowalski, a social psychologist from the University of North Carolina, “almost half of those who perpetrate K-12 shootings report a history of rejection, with many experiencing bullying.” As a result of bullying or exclusion and rejection, a motive such as revenge can present itself to the perpetrator, who believes that this form of justice will bring them on par with their school, teacher, peer, etc. Due to this belief, most students have a false sense of justice, thinking that they are doing the right thing by giving their adversary what they deserve. Another cause Kowalski presents is that perpetrators often have a history of mental disabilities and issues. She states, “more than half of K-12 shooters have a history of psychological problems (e.g., depression, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, and psychotic episodes).” Due to undiagnosed and untreated psychological problems, perpetrators are often deterred from seeking assistance and find a justification for their feelings through violence. Mental illness is not a direct factor to blame, but has a significant impact on the individual’s mindset and thought processes. Lastly, one of the most common reasons for school shootings is the easy availability of guns in the United States. While there is an overarching belief in the U.S. that having a weapon will protect us, the reality is that not only does having a firearm often contradict this claim, but it also results in thousands of accidents. According to the article “17 Facts About Gun Violence and School Shootings,” statistics reveal that 68% of gun incidents at schools involved weapons taken from home, a friend, or a relative, highlighting how easily guns can be accessed by those under 18 without a license.

There are several effects that gun violence in schools has on our society. The three main effects on students involved are negative impacts on school participation and graduation rates, the development of mental health issues, and significant trauma and stress. Krysten Crawford, who is involved in the legal industry of the American Lawyer media, emphasizes how victimized students involved in school shootings are more likely to be absent from school, repeat a grade, have a low chance of graduating high school, and have reduced prospects for academic success in the future as adults. It is apparent that school shooting trauma has a profound effect on those involved and can completely alter their future. Another study from Stanford University has shown that many adolescents involved in school shootings tend to develop mental and mood disorders, including depression, anxiety, and excessive stress over time. Areas where one or more school shootings have occurred are known to have increased usage of antidepressant and stress-relieving drugs among students. This abundance of drug use is directly correlated to the influence of shootings on mental illnesses, leading to future problems for students. Lastly, one of the most significant overarching factors of the effects of school shootings on students is the excessive amount of stress and trauma they experience. A study by Maya Rossin-Slater, an associate health policy professor at Stanford University, explains how “trauma from exposure to violence can impact young people” and how “such trauma can affect both the biological stress system as well as the developing brains of young individuals”. Although the amounts and effects of trauma may vary for individuals, school shootings have a direct correlation with trauma and stress.

On November 30, 2021, a fifteen-year-old boy ended the lives of four students in a Michigan high school. Just days prior, his father had purchased a handgun, which the boy used to fire 18 rounds of ammunition that day. This is just one example of how firearms can cause destruction when handled immaturely by the owners and those around them.

In order to prevent further school shootings in the United States, the U.S. government must enforce stronger restrictions regarding gun laws. An example of how political organizing could improve this issue is by passing a law where the allowed age of purchasing a firearm is 21 or higher; 3 years above the current age allowed. Making guns harder to access by minors will create a positive impact for this issue because of how easily guns have been taken in past school shooting incidents. Prohibiting reckless and rash use of these weapons will not only prevent accidents in homes, but also stop perpetrators from finding and using them dangerously. One way advocates could improve the state of safety in schools is by protesting the enforcement of stricter rules and restrictions regarding guns and their use. Currently, buying a gun requires a small number of steps with very lenient regulations, and almost no rules about storing and keeping a firearm, which is typically the cause of many minors finding and using guns. Direct service, such as speaking out about the effects of a reckless owner with a gun, governments will be influenced to prohibit the reckless uses of guns and it’s simple accessibility, providing students with a safe environment to thrive in at school.

Gun violence in U.S. schools has been a recurring problem for decades, and its effects are not ameliorating. This civic issue has a tremendous number of effects on students, faculty, and even citizens in the surrounding area, including: deaths of children and adults, a disrupted future, an impacted mental health, and even post-traumatic stress for bystanders involved. Solving this nation-wide issue would not only increase the safety of U.S. citizens everywhere, but also ensure schools are well-protected by firearm enforcements and regulations. Children used to be able to look at school as a safe place to learn with their peers and classmates, and by recreating this environment, students will be able to learn in harmony without the constant worry of an active shooter on the other side of the door. 

How can we aim to protect students from injury or death in circumstances like these when gun laws can be easily bypassed? When guns can be simply accessed by adolescents, circumstances like these should increase awareness around firearms and their purpose in general. Holding weapons in our homes is for protection, as indicated by the Second Amendment, but how are people supposed to protect themselves when the very same weapons are being used to end lives?