Living Through Littleton

The shooting in Littleton, Colo. last week was a shock to the hearts and minds of people across America. Our hearts are with the people and students of Littleton. The eighth fatal school shooting in 18 months, it has brought the issues of violence and mental health among teenagers to the forefront as never before.

With a possible third suspect at large, it has become increasingly clear that these acts of violence are not isolated or spontaneous--officials report that the youths involved in the Littleton shooting may have been planning the massacre for over a year. These tragedies are the result of severe emotional distress among teens with access to an impressive arsenal of weapons.

What can we do now? That is the question on the lips of lawmakers, school officials and parents around the country. No one wants to see this disaster repeated in their schools, yet few people have ready answers for this apparent epidemic of violence.

Still, some intelligent measures have been suggested in the wake of this disaster. Among them are increased counseling and mental health services in schools as well as tighter gun control laws.

In response to the shootings, many state legislatures, including Colorado's, have suspended or dropped legislation that would loosen current gun controls. These actions are fitting both in the sense that America is in desperate need of more serious gun control and in the context of the recent shooting and its effect on the sense of safety in communities around the country.

Contrary to the views of those like Charleton Heston and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura--that more concealed weapons could have prevented violence in this and other school shootings--the shooting has shown us that handguns have no place in American society. The guns used in the shooting--sawed-off shotguns, a 9-millimeter and a carbine pistol--were not sold directly to the youths, but their easy availability is unacceptable. Heston and Ventura would have us believe that the only way to protect ourselves is to arm ourselves, but reasonable Americans know that more guns mean more violence.

Despite the gun issue, which remains a contentious and divisive one in America, the one thing we can all agree about is the need for more counseling and mental health services for teens. Severely alienated high-scholars will lash out against their perceived persecutors with whatever weapons they have, be they guns or words. We need to make sure that we reach these kids before they decide that it is them against the world. While it is difficult to tell which kids are loners and which are murderers, teachers must be trained to identify the kind of warning signs that can allow for successful early intervention.

Budget cuts which have virtually eliminated such counseling services are ill-advised, and we should consider making access to these services priority nationwide.

Perhaps, the Littleton massacre was a fluke. Perhaps, while it could have happened anywhere, it will not be repeated. But the fact remains that it seems to be art of deadly pattern of alienation and violence which must be addressed.

The students at Littleton High want to be remembered for their achievements and their sense of community, not for this tragic event. Yet it will be forever marked on the American psyche. There is no option to ignore or diminish its significance.

We owe the children already dead, and those living in fear or isolation around the country a concerted effort to make schools safe again.