School Shooting Research Paper

Indicators of School Crime and Safety
The most alarming statistic about school shootings and security is the fact that, during the academic year 2008-09, there were 1579 reported homicide case among school going youths of which 17 incidents took place in the school premises. In the year 2008 alone, there were 7 incidents reported in schools and 1344 homicide cases among youths aged 5-18. Looking at the number of youths involved in crime, the danger that is posed by the young people cannot be underestimated (Robers, Zhang, Truman, Snyder, 2012).
It is evident that no shooting can take place without someone having some prior information about it. What is alarming is the fact that no reports are made to the concerned authorities. The reason behind this may be fear or overall victimization by the criminals.

They can be carried out by outside terrorist groups or radicalized students with elaborate intentions of causing harm. Mass shootings on the other hand are incidents that involve several victims of gun violence. They must have at least four or more people killed, not including the perpetrator. They are either committed by individuals or organizations in open or non-public places (Robers, Zhang, Truman, Snyder, 2012). There are a number of strategies that can help deal with these shootings. Carrying concealed weapon and having armed officers in vulnerable areas will enable people defend themselves. The challenge in this is that, the increasing of officers and firearms would create a police state situation which we have tried to abandon for decades. Another tactic is ensuring the culture that has perpetuated violence and made people insensitive to its effects is changed. The problem here is interfering with our culture too much hence limiting what we can do and say (Dinkes, Cataldi, Kena, & Baum,