Posted: 28 March 2023 at 8:09pm | IP Logged | 7
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"I can't imagine being a parent today and these kinds of fears including gun violence over your child simply going to school to get an education."
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 783 school shootings between 2000 and 2021, including 314 shootings that resulted in a fatality (some of those involved multiple fatalities, so more than 314 children have been killed). Link: nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/a01
The same article shows that the number of school shootings rose from 13 in 2001-02 to 56 in 2006-07. Then it dropped to 14 in 2007-08, 11 in 2009-2010, 17 in 2010-2011, and 14 the next year. 2008-09 is an outlier, with 41 shootings.
Since 2015-2016, the number of shootings has increased every year, at an alarming rate. That year there were 27 shootings, followed by 38, 59, 78, 77, and 93 in 2020-21.
Per Education Week, in 2022 there were 51 school shootings with injuries or deaths, including 140 fatalities (they don't show the total number of shootings, which is likely more than 100, including shootings that did not result in an injury or death).
The numbers show we are headed in the wrong direction very quickly. This is a national crisis.
Statistically, even if there were 200 school shootings per year, the likelihood of your child being shot at school is extremely small. We need to do something about this, but it doesn't make sense to live your life in fear of your child being killed at school. School shootings are a relatively small (but extremely important) facet of a much larger problem. Children are much more likely to encounter gun violence at home, on their way to and from school, and in other places.
According to the CDC, in 2020 gun violence overtook automobile accidents as the leading cause of death for young people in America. More than 4300 young Americans (defined as under 19 years old) died from firearm related injuries. Link: bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61192975
Overall, 45,222 Americans were killed by guns that year.
However, according to Education Week, only three people (2 children and one adult) were killed in school shootings.
Playing devil's advocate- the CDC estimates there are more than 390 million guns owned in the U.S.
45,000 deaths is a small number compared to the number of guns owned, which bolsters the argument that the overwhelming majority of gun owners are responsible. That is one reason why passing gun control legislation will be difficult.
Personally, I favor some additional gun control, but given how difficult it will be to achieve, it shouldn't be the only solution we turn to.
Edited by John Wickett on 28 March 2023 at 8:12pm
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