Violence In Us

Violence in US

Violence has been one of the many problems here in the United States. There have been many occurrences of violence in our society that have truly impacted us. The first thing that most people think about are the terrorist attacks that happened on September 11. Another example that has had a huge impact on our society was the massacre that took place at Columbine High School in Colorado. The ramifications that society has faced since this massacre has been overwhelming. Columbine was a deadly massacre that killed a small number of people, but the events of that day have affected millions of people.

Columbine high school is a small school located in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado. Two kids that lived there were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. The two had been friends for a few years before this massacre had even occurred. In high school they had been known to be part of the quiet clique that would not really associate with others. They were thought to be "Goths". As a result for their quiet demeanor, it was believed that they were targets for bullies and that they had been pushed around for a substantial amount of time. Most investigators believe this was a big reason for the two kids' behavior. Harris, in particular, grew a huge hatred for society. Harris had a website that was intended for a video-game level design, but he would post blogs regularly on the site about his hatred for everything, and he even made a death threat on the site.

A little over a year before the shooting, Harris and Klebold had been caught with computer equipment that had been stolen from a parked van. They were arrested, but the judge decided that due to their lack of moral judgment that they needed psychiatric help, and they were allowed to attend a diversion program that included counseling and community service. However, during counseling Harris was prescribed an anti-depressant drug, Luvox. Some investigators say that the drug may have altered his way of thinking and may have been a reason for the crime he eventually commits.

Harris and Klebold eventually started to build bombs, in which directions on how to build them were posted on their website. They also kept their own written journals, and wrote about plans on how to blow up a building, and how to hijack a plane. They also described what they were planning to do at Columbine High School.

On April 20, 1999, the two set out on their plan. The original plan was to plant bombs in the cafeteria, and when the cafeteria exploded, they would then kill who ever walked out. The bombs, however, did not detonate. When that failed, they had entered the school with their illegally purchased guns and began shooting at people. They showed mercy to a few people, but mostly shot at anyone who was in their site. They did have some specific targets. This was documented in the journals, and when they shouted out for the jocks to show themselves in the library is another example. They had walked through the school while students as well as faculty had attempted to hide or run. The police had shortly arrived after the shootings of a few students. After killing or injuring many students, they had decided to take their own lives by shooting themselves in the head. In total, thirteen people were killed and twenty four more were injured.

Columbine is considered the deadliest school shooting in history, and the second deadliest attack on a school in United States history after the Bath School disaster. Ever since then, many attempted violent attacks have occurred and Columbine is credited with the instigation of these attacks. Most students that have planned or successfully had these attacks have stated by word or writing that they planned on topping the work of Harris and Klebold at Columbine.

Aside from the murderous effects, Columbine sent a shockwave throughout the nation. People started calling for a more beefed up security system in schools, as well as, psychological meetings with children about what had occurred and hoping to prevent incidents like Columbine. Schools nationwide had purchased technologically advanced security systems, had incorporated metal detectors into their normal school security, and hired armed guards in hopes of protection. Anti-bullying seminars were held throughout the nation to deal with, what many believe to be one of the causes for the massacre. Others want to believe that violent video games, which the two were actually very involved in, as well as violent movies, in which they loved, were also to blame for their actions. The Government had even taken action soon after the incident using federal legislations demanding safety locks on firearms and a ban on importation of high-capacity ammunition magazines. Other responses to the massacre had occurred soon after.

Michael Moore's, Bowling for Columbine, which had been released in 2002 was a response to the violence that occurred in Columbine high school. Moore's main objective is to find out the reason why there is so much gun violence in the United States. He gives various explanations on why