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Let’s Move Beyond Debate and Take Action
by Ashley Thompson
Feb. 24, 2024
This recent shooting struck a personal chord with me; my child’s friend was in the classroom next door. The mere thought fills me with dread and sorrow for her and all those impacted by this horrific event. When I approached my 14-year-old daughter to gauge her feelings, she confidently asserted, “The security guard at school is there to protect us. This could never happen at my school.” I felt a wave of relief at her sense of safety, even as I refrained from sharing the grim reality: there have been 18 school shootings in just the first 45 days of this year. Alarmingly, many of these incidents involve students turning against their peers. Sadly, these acts of violence are often meticulously planned, and even the most vigilant security cannot prevent them from occurring, whether inside or outside school grounds.
Gun Rights vs. Gun Control
I truly long for a day when we can put an end to society’s endless back-and-forth over gun rights and gun control. The usual debate centers around “guns kill people” versus “2nd Amendment Rights” and “guns for self-defense.” We find ourselves trapped in a cycle of arguments leading to inaction, perpetuating our current predicament.
Extensive research points to one clear conclusion: the high rate of mass shootings in America is primarily linked to the staggering number of guns in circulation. Moreover, the U.S. possesses some of the weakest regulations regarding who can purchase firearms and what types of guns can be owned.
Dan Hodges, a British journalist, once tweeted about the Sandy Hook tragedy, stating, “Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over,” implying that the gun control debate in the U.S. had reached a dead end.
I won’t delve into all the potential methods for enacting gun control laws. A basic principle could be that the more lethal the weapon, the stricter the licensing requirements. For instance, obtaining a pilot’s license is more challenging than getting a driver’s license. This could involve training, certification, background checks, and periodic re-licensing. Certain weapons could be restricted to a select few (e.g., machine guns and explosives for specific professionals). It’s frankly shocking that, just last night, I could have easily purchased an AR-15 online.
Integrating Emotional Learning in Schools
We should integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) into the curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade. Most schools fail to teach students constructive ways to manage anger, anxiety, and other significant emotions. There is often little guidance on how to regulate emotions, tolerate frustration, identify core values, and develop problem-solving skills. These abilities are critical for managing difficult emotions and making sound decisions.
Teaching about emotional states is crucial. Research shows that they contribute to attention, memory, decision-making, relationship quality, physical and mental health, as well as creativity. Numerous studies underscore the importance of incorporating SEL in schools and homes due to its lasting benefits. For more on how to implement SEL in educational settings and foster these skills at home, check out our posts on parenting with emotional intelligence and the unfortunate rise of school violence.
Identifying At-Risk Individuals
Perpetrators of mass school shootings often display risk factors linked to criminal behavior: histories of abuse, ineffective parenting, a propensity for violence against animals, and a lack of compassion. Contrary to popular belief, most individuals with mental illness are not violent. Among adult offenders, paranoid schizophrenia is the most frequently associated mental illness, while data on juvenile shooters reveals different trends.
Research indicates that school shootings are rarely impulsive; they are usually premeditated. Many offenders consume violent media, including films and video games, and are obsessed with firearms. Revenge is often a motive, with 61% seeking retribution after feeling bullied or persecuted.
It’s vital to be aware of the “Werther Effect,” where one violent act leads to a surge in similar incidents following extensive media coverage. In nearly all cases, there are clear indications of risk factors through social media and the perpetrator’s behavior prior to the incident.
Schools need to train administrators, teachers, and support staff to recognize these risk factors and understand protocols for reporting concerns.
Advocating for Accessible Mental Health Services
As a community, we should push for legislation that provides low-cost or free access to trauma-informed mental health services, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Trauma-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These services should be available not only to those directly affected by tragedies but also to bystanders who often go unnoticed.
Effective trauma treatment can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD and other adverse psychological effects. Survivors frequently face a wide array of emotions, including anger and guilt, along with physical symptoms like memory issues and nightmares. Timely counseling can alleviate these negative impacts and help individuals navigate their recovery process.
A Call for Comprehensive Reform
Real change will only occur through comprehensive and radical reforms. We must consider both preventative measures and those that address existing issues. Each time I send my children off to school, I hug them a little tighter, feeling an unfamiliar fear as if I’m sending them into danger. Like all children, they deserve every possible protection.
Let’s stop the endless debates and start taking actionable steps to ensure the safety and security of our children.
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Summary
This article emphasizes the urgent need to move beyond debates on gun control and focus on actionable solutions to keep children safe in schools. It discusses the importance of integrating social-emotional learning in education, recognizing risk factors in individuals, advocating for accessible mental health services, and calls for comprehensive reform to protect our children.
Keyphrase: gun control and school safety
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