Hogan2
On April 20th, 1999, “Today is not a good day to be here” scrolled across the bottom of one of the morning announcements at Columbine High School. Harris and Klebold arrived at the school just before lunchtime with four different guns, several CO2 bombs, and one twenty-pound propane bomb. They set the bomb on a cafeteria table in a duffle bag and left it to go off at 11:17 am. While waiting for the bomb to go off, the boys shot anyone in site. Immediately after they began shooting, several 911 calls were placed. Police arrived at the seen and shots were firing everywhere. Harris and Klebold ended up in the library, sitting on the floor, ready to end their lives. Each put a gun to their end. The massacre had ended. In a mere 60 minutes, two high school students took the lives of fifteen people (including themselves) and severely injured twenty-four people. Had their propane bomb worked as planned, 400 people could have been killed. (Vanessa West, Columbine)
The reaction the Columbine massacre was huge. The whole country was impacted by it. Anti-bullying programs were formed, school security was increased immensely, guns laws were revised, and fear was lingering everywhere. It brought the nation together. Celebrities and politicians reached out to the victims and the community. A little over 10 years later, so much has changed since this historical event.
School shooting rates have actually gone way up since the tragedy. It may have made some students realize how much they were capable of doing. It put the idea out there for other children who were bullied to get back at their bullies. Its scary to think
Hogan3
that you could be sitting in a classroom and at any time someone could just pull out a gun and end your life for no reason. Schools are far more prepared now than they were back then, however, to handle and control a situation like Columbine. (School Security)
The underlying cause of the Columbine shooting was bullying. No matter how sick minded and troubled Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were, something and someone caused them to get that way. They were simply unpopular, unwanted, and isolated. They were made fun of, harassed, and hazed. Even today that still occurs in schools, and it’s even worse now. Teenagers lack respect for their peers and higher authorities. It’s all a direct result of a lack of discipline in schools.
The shooting at Columbine High School on April 20th, 1999 was an awful event that happened to a great community. It has impacted the nation in many ways and was the jump-start to a new era of school safety and security. It is a day that will be forever remembered in history. May those 13 innocent lives that were taken on that day rest in peace, they will never know how much they’re unintended sacrifice changed the world.
Hogan4
Works Cited
"Columbine High School: Information and Photos Before, during and after the Shooting." ~(@)~ 4-20-99 a Columbine Site ~(@)~ All about the Columbine High School Shootings. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://acolumbinesite.com/columbine.html>.
"The Columbine High School Shootings." The Criminal Mind - Contents. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://vanessawest.tripod.com/columbine-4.html>.
"Columbine Massacre - The School Shooting of April 20, 1999." 20th Century History. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://history1900s.about.com/od/famouscrimesscandals/a/columbine.htm>.
"Finally Understand Why. Dave Cullen's Definitive Columbine Book: The Columbine Killers, Shooting & Myths." Official Site for Dave Cullen, Author of 'Columbine' Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.davecullen.com/columbine.htm>.
"National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse | Childhelp. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. <http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics>.
Shepard, Alicia C. "The Columbine Shooting Case Study." Columbia University in the City of New York. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/j6075/edit/readings/columbine.html>.
Toppo, Greg. "10 Years Later, the Real Story behind Columbine - USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-13-columbine-myths_N.htm>.
Tuesday, Dave Cullen|Posted. "At Last We Know Why the Columbine Killers Did It. - Slate Magazine." Slate Magazine - Politics, Business, Technology, and the Arts - Slate Magazine. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/assessment/2004/04/the_depressive_and_the_psychopath.single.html>.
by
ashleeyhogan (student)
