Ohio High School Shootings

[CougarKing]

Yet another unfortunate school shooting. What sets this apart from previous shootings is the fact this US public school had high standards and was supposed to be one that catered to "gifted kids" and was "technology-based". Our condolences go to the families of those affected.

Does anyone think that this will further affect the gun control debate in the States?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/10/cleveland.shooting/index.html

-- At least two people and perhaps as many as four were wounded Wednesday in a shooting at SuccessTech Academy, a high school in downtown Cleveland, according to reports.

Two students were taken to hospitals, said Andrea Jackson, press secretary for Cleveland's mayor. One was taken out of the school on a stretcher but was conscious.

Police are looking for a 14-year-old male in connection with the shooting, according to reports.

Cleveland fire, police and EMS are at the scene, as is Mayor Frank Jackson.

 

[c_canuk]

I think this just goes to show that no matter what subset of society there will always be the outcasts no matter how narrowly you define it...

my father says this never happened when he went to school and they used to bring their .22s for after class hunting...

I wonder it's a case of more national coverage or fall out from our society being more focused on individualistic traits and against all conformity (self centered) than previous generations...

 

[Burrows]

Trimmed pf gun control debate and reopened.

 

[Shamrock]

I wonder it's a case of more national coverage or fall out from our society being more focused on individualistic traits and against all conformity (self centered) than previous generations...

Individualism has always been a highly cherished trait in Western societies.  I don't think that's to blame.  I was reading something, somewhere, some time ago saying that most of the killers had hyper-inflated self-esteems.  Instead of the shy bullying victim, the killers were confident and aggressive; they were of the "Only I am ever right" mindset.  Again, hardly new societal values.

I think 20/20 did something similar, where they were trying to conflate the present trend of rewarding children for absolutely everything with the increase in school killings.  I believe their comments ran along the lines that this does more than boost a child's self esteem, it inflates it, and when the child reaches adulthood and encounters a situation that takes the wind from his sail, the child with a too-greatly and artificially inflated self-esteem will not be able to cope in an appropriate manner.

I think that more data needs to be presented.  Yes, there is a fair amount of school violence, but how much has there been historically?  Does this represent a change in morale values or a change in reporting?  How many similar instances occur in the workplace?  One also has to consider populations.  Yes, there could be ten times as many incidents today than during the 1950's... but there's 10 times the population.  Incidents are also not isolated to North America.  I recall a flamethrower incident in Northern Ireland.