After Columbine - Calls to put police in schools, films/music/tv blamed

[The Straight Story]

WASHINGTON — Marking the first anniversary of the shooting deaths at Columbine High School, President Clinton announced $120 million in new federal grants Saturday to place more police officers in schools and help even the youngest kids cope with their problems.

...

Clinton's proposals drew instant comment from Republicans.

"The White House conference on teenagers is sure to draw national headlines and attention, but unlikely to add new light to these troubling questions," said Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. (R-Okla.), chairman of the House Republican Conference. He said the solutions will be found around America's kitchen tables, "not from Washington or from posturing politicians."

Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson accused Clinton of having "shamelessly politicized and taken advantage of national tragedies" while ignoring the films, television programs and music videos Nicholson said are responsible for creating "a culture of death" among youthful Americans. Instead of using his office to combat the entertainment industry, Clinton has chosen to use the industry as a source of campaign cash, he said.

http://articles.latimes.com/2000/apr/16/news/mn-20323

Most gun owners are responsible with their weapons. Most people who play violent games don't go around hurting other people. Music, movies, etc and so on are generally enjoyed by people without it causing them to harm others.

No one thing caused these shooting, perhaps a perfect storm of things, but no one thing can/should be blamed.

[exboyfil]

1. The amazing thing is that

films, tv, and video games are all more violent and graphic than in 1999, but the violent crime rate is actually down from that point (523 to 386) and murder (5.7 to 4.7). This reflects a larger societal trend since 1991 (758 to 386 for violent crime) and 9.8 to 4.7 for murder.

I think it would be better to argue the mechanics of the extended magazines and slide fire technology versus trying to eliminate magazine fed semiautomatics which is not going to happen. Take what you can get. I also think the policy of "Gun Free Zones" should be rethought (not that I think it is effective in a mass shooting event like this but because I think the added exposure is not that great). I would go with additional licensing requirements to carry in "Gun Free Zones" (like Commercial drivers licenses require a higher level). Also some type of lock out technology for teachers so that students can't take the weapons from the teachers and use them (like a Magna Trigger).

I just don't think we should be in a world in which this (hypothetically) guy's grandson can carry this gun into a target rich environment like a school or a stadium.