School Shootings Have Become Ordinary in our Society. What is Next?

BY WILLIAM FEOLA

As news broke of a 12-year-old girl discharging a gun  that injured four at Sal Castro Middle School, the thought of another school shooting, one would think, would shock the nation. But that is not the case anymore.

There have been 12 school shootings  over the first month of 2018, including 11 in the first 23 days, taking the lives  and leaving many more injured.  From North Carolina to Michigan and all the way to California, children as young as 12 years old, as well as grown adults, have  been involved in these school shootings.

Still, the public doesn’t  seem phased or surprised anymore when they hear that another shooting has taken place.

“Honestly, no I am not surprised to hear that 12 school shootings have taken place already this year,” said Alexandra Cacciola, 18, who is a criminal justice major at Ramapo College. “I feel like ever since the Sandy Hook incident happened all I see on TV is more and more school shootings being reported and I don’t think it’s going to get better anytime soon.”

Since 2013, there have been exactly 287 school shootings in the country, which leaves on average about one school shooting per week. With 12 shootings already occurring over the first month, that leaves the possibility of finishing at 144 shootings this year alone, nearly 2 and a half times the amount of 2017, which finished with 65.

Numbers have been steadily increasing over the past four years, with 37 shootings reported in 2013, 58 in 2014, 65 in 2015, a surprising drop at 48 in 2016, but once again another sharp increase was seen in 2017 with 65. Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, there have been at least 94 gun-related deaths as a result of school shootings along with another 156 who were injured but thankfully made a successful recovery. These statistics don’t include the plans that didn’t come to fruition or plots that were foiled.

Some of these school shootings have been suicides, but that doesn’t negate the fact that the threat is very real and very alive.  A report by the Urban Institute shows that during the 2011-2012 school year in the single school district in Washington, D.C., 336 incidents of gunfire occurred, with more than half of them within 1,000 feet of the school.

People have been trying to come up with solutions to reduce the number of school shootings, but differing views on gun control and other solutions have put any type of resolution on hold. Despite many people wanting to take guns out of peoples hands, an article done by BBC.com shows that people are opening up to the idea of having retired police officers, marshals and even teachers carry guns to try and reduce the likelihood of a shooting happening.

“I believe having armed retired police officers is the way to go when it comes to school safety,” said William C. Feola, retired police lieutenant of 30 years. “Having 20+ years of high stress training as well as knowing how to deal with any and all situations makes them, along with marshals, retired army guys, etc. the best choices in my opinion.”

After a brutal first month to start the year, the country and its high ranking officials need to look back and review everything that has happened so that the necessary changes and revisions that need to be made actually happen and take guns out of the wrong hands, especially children, observers and experts say.