So far in 2024, USA reached an alarming figure: 83 school shootingsthe highest number recorded to date. This data not only shows a growing phenomenon, but also the fissures of a sociedad marked by the armed violence and the polarization.
A scenario that, from Mexico, does not go unnoticed, as it reminds us of the consequences that the flow of weapons from EU has in the violence south of the border.
You may be interested: Trump reiterates accusations against migrants
The most recent case, which occurred at a Christian school in Wisconsinclaimed the lives of three people, including the attacker, Natalie Rupnowa 15-year-old student. The tragedy It took place around the same time as the Sandy Hook massacre, in which 26 people died.
🇺🇸 | URGENT
The shooting at a Wisconsin school left at least 5 dead, including the shooter, and 5 injured, police confirm.pic.twitter.com/i9SCEXhJYM
— Alerta News (@AlertaMinuto) December 16, 2024
The figures of horror
According to data from CNN, Of the 83 shootings recorded this year as of Monday, 56 occurred in elementary and middle schools, while 27 occurred on university campuses. The toll is heartbreaking: 38 people dead and at least 115 injured. Even more worrying is the upward trend. Although there was a slight decrease in 2020 during the pandemic, school shootings are going growing up since 2021.
You may be interested: Shooting at a Christian school in Wisconsin leaves five dead and multiple injured
According to him Gun Violence Archive (GVA), so far in 2024, more than 488 mass shootings in the country, an average of almost two a day. More than 16 thousand people lost their lives, including 236 children between 0 and 11 years old, which shows the vulnerability of victims innocent.
The Columbine effect: a structural problem
The attack on the high school Columbine, in Colorado, In 1999, it marked a before and after. The massacre, perpetrated by Eric Harris y Dylan Kleboldwho murdered 13 people before committing suicide, set a macabre precedent. Since then, the term “Columbine effect” alludes to the attackers who are inspired by that tragedy.
You may be interested: Shooting at a high school near Atlanta leaves four dead and nine injured
In the wake of these events, the response was primarily reactive. The Police in Schools program, implemented after Columbine, led to constant surveillance of more than 30,000 educational centers. Cameras and metal detectors have been installed, but these efforts are insufficient.
Guns and polarization
The US has 120 firearms per 100 inhabitants, according to the Small Arms Survey, a figure that doubles that of a decade ago and exceeds that of any country in the world. This proliferation reflects a divided society, where the debate on gun control faces irreconcilable positions. Joe Biden, has repeatedly urged the Congress to implement stricter laws. “It is unacceptable that we cannot protect our children from this scourge of gun violence,” he said Monday.
You may be interested: New shooting at a US school leaves several dead and injured
In contrast, Donald Trump defends the Second Amendment by maintaining that “the existence of evil is not a reason to disarm respectful citizens.”
The impact on the educational community
Beyond the fatalities and hurts, the shootings also left scars in the educational community. Teachers and students led movements in favor of gun control, and the increase in these attacks also led to a reflection on the role of the school as an institution. Previously seen as a safe and educational space, today it is perceived by some as an environment of extreme violence.
Related