Why are our school children so unsafe?

[PattyG]

I don't know what is happening in our country. It's sad, that every time a new school shooting occurs, it is less shocking than before. Still, my thoughts go out to everyone involved and I can only imagine the despair the parents of those children must feel.
When I was young, I never had to worry about being shot in my school. Our parents and our government kept us safe and we never feared for our lives. What is happening now? Have we failed? What has gone wrong in the country? I wish there were easy answers and solutions but there are none. Every new shooting is just another blow to the comfort we have in the safety and well-being of our nation.

[haidyl]

I think that has a lot has changed and like you, we didn't have to worry about such things, while growing up. It is unfortunate that such things are happening but again, it is difficult to talk about such things without it taking a political twist. Is there a problem with the gun laws or what can be done to change things for the better? It is the government's duty to guarantee every citizen their safety.

[Berta]

It is a political issue and can be tackled in part by how we choose to vote and who for. BUT it's also become a social problem - like so many political issues that are left to spiral out of control. Many people are so acccepting and, as you say @PattyG we are becoming immune emotionally. The shock is less each time. So, in conjunction with the political side of things, we have to tackle the social aspects. And then there's also a commercial factor - selling guns makes a lot of money for a lot of people. Personally, I'd go for 100% ban on guns for personal use.

[Kidless]

I will always believe that school shootings and other acts of violence stem from the basic breakdown of the family unit.  I grew up in a household with a mother, a father, a brother and guns.  We went to church, prayed at home and in school and were taught morals.  In today's world, there are too many single moms and dads that have to work more than one job to make ends meet.  Kids are kind of left on their own.  Gun control will never work.  Only those with morals and ethics with comply.

[PattyG]

I agree with all of you. There is a real breakdown of values nowadays. There is no sense of community for people and it is a shame that a student can feel compelled to murder their classmates. It is even more atrocious when it is an adult, killing children. Back in the day, this sort of behavior only came from psychopaths. I am certain, that if people felt more connected to their fellow neighbors, this kind of violence would not occur. Instead of making connections, however, we are allowing children to retreat into their little online bubbles and avoid the real world.