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I used the following link as a guide (and, btw, I mentally added up the numbers, so if my totals are off by a few, that is why), and the numbers are absolutely revolting:
1960's: 18 school shootings, 44 deaths, 64 injured (108 total casualties)
1970's: 30 school shootings, 37 deaths, 73 injured (110 total casualties)
1980's: 39 school shootings, 49 deaths, 162 injured (211 total casualties)
1990's: 62 school shootings, 88 deaths, 144 injured (232 total casualties)
2000's: 63 school shootings, 107 deaths, 137 injured (244 total casualties)
2010 - 3/20/18: 149 school shootings, 162 deaths, 251 injured (413 total casualties)
In short, since 1960, there have been over 350 school shootings and 1300 people killed or injured in school grounds; and since 2010, there have been more than twice as many school shootings as any previous decade.
And, yes, you can quibble about some of the listings, such as the Cokeville Massacre in which a deranged couple kidnapped 154 people in May 1986, and a bomb (not a gun) went off, injuring about 75 kids and killing the two perpetrators, but I think that anyone who says that we don't have a serious problem is deluding himself or herself.
I used the following link as a guide (and, btw, I mentally added up the numbers, so if my totals are off by a few, that is why), and the numbers are absolutely revolting:
1960's: 18 school shootings, 44 deaths, 64 injured (108 total casualties)
1970's: 30 school shootings, 37 deaths, 73 injured (110 total casualties)
1980's: 39 school shootings, 49 deaths, 162 injured (211 total casualties)
1990's: 62 school shootings, 88 deaths, 144 injured (232 total casualties)
2000's: 63 school shootings, 107 deaths, 137 injured (244 total casualties)
2010 - 3/20/18: 149 school shootings, 162 deaths, 251 injured (413 total casualties)
In short, since 1960, there have been over 350 school shootings and 1300 people killed or injured in school grounds; and since 2010, there have been more than twice as many school shootings as any previous decade.
And, yes, you can quibble about some of the listings, such as the Cokeville Massacre in which a deranged couple kidnapped 154 people in May 1986, and a bomb (not a gun) went off, injuring about 75 kids and killing the two perpetrators, but I think that anyone who says that we don't have a serious problem is deluding himself or herself.
So, do tell....what has changed, the gun or society?
I honestly wish I knew what is the cause of the increasing violence in schools today, but I don't and so I don't have any answers. I wish I did. However, I suspect that there are many factors, with most of them involving the fact that there have been a LOT of changes in society and attitudes as far as what is now acceptable and what is not (with both the MSM and social media being a big part of that) -- but then I am an old fogey who thinks that things were generally better in 1960 for MOST people in the U.S. than they are today, except for those who were not white and at least working class. (And, no, I am definitely NOT a Trump supporter!) I also think that many young people are just not very happy now and are not optimistic, so some of them might just think, "Well, why shouldn't I just do what I want?" It's difficult to be optimistic and soldier on if one feels there is no hope of success and eventual happiness, I think. And I think this is especially true of younger people who sometimes have difficulty of seeing past today -- or, at most, tomorrow. (And I am NOT saying this applies to ALL young people, but I think it applies to some.)
P.S. I will tell you that I used to be 100% anti-gun, but I have changed my mind about that in the past ten years. I honestly do not think that banning guns will solve the problem, although it probably would lessen the number of shootings; however, I think the problem goes much deeper than just gun ownership. As many others have pointed out, people have had guns for hundreds of years and not many of them decided to take a gun with the intent of killing one or more people.
What was different was more discipline in schools.
More respect for authority....kids were more likely to be paddled in schools or put over their father's knee at home when they misbehaved..
No 24 hour cable news cycles and no Internet, Facebook and Twitter to sensationalize incidents on the rare occasions that they did occur.
Less copycat criminals and nut cases..
There was bullying back then but cell phones and social media has helped to push bullying to a whole new level. Witnessed and dealt with it this weekend with my own kid. My kid almost got suspended for defending himself. Thank goodness the principle met with me last week with another teacher concerning my kid and knows how strict of a household we run.
There are some schools who suspend all involved even if the other is defending themselves.
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