School Violence

Written by Chris Uhl
The information contained herein is only to inform the public and does not create an attorney client relationship with the reader. You should always consult an attorney when seeking legal advice.

I am sure everyone is aware of the problems of life threatening violence in the high schools and grade schools of America that has spilled onto our television sets night in and night out. What is the problem? How do we stop it? How has society come to this level?

What is the root of the problem that causes young children to shoot other children in school? We have seen this happen in Kentucky and now in Oregon. Is it their home life? Is it that guns are readily available? Is it that the media and television glorify violence? When should we, as a society, begin to worry that our future leaders have learned all the wrong things?

The problem is now everyone looks to the judicial system and the criminal justice system to fix the wrongs of society. This is occurring way too much, as is evident by the overcrowded courts concerning drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and domestic violence. The courts are not prepared to handle these types of cases. Now the criminal justice system is looked upon to try these children as adults and punish them for their misdeeds. As an unbiased bystander, this is not the answer. I am sure if I was one of the parents of the victims; I would want an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth. But I would like society to answer this question: What causes this phenomenon?

The media is to blame for glorifying all the violence. Of course, violent movies are only made because this is what the public requests. It is requested and successful, as shown by the tremendous attendance at the theaters of violent movies. The young children, ages 6-12, take their ideas from the movies and television shows. Of course the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects freedom of speech, but at some point freedom of speech may want to be balanced with the freedom to live. The media has far more control over our lives and the way we make decisions than anyone would like to agree.

The availability of guns is what makes violence permanent. The society we live in must make a decision as to the handling of firearms. The National Rifle Association (NRA) misconstrues the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. The NRA reads it as everyone has a right to firearms, but the language specifically says the militia has a right to firearms. The NRA has a strong lobbying contingent both on Beacon Hill in Massachusetts and Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The NRA’s lobbying efforts are quite like those of the tobacco companies. As you can see it has taken many years for the tobacco companies to finally come under scrutiny. How many more children must to die before the gun manufacturers come under scrutiny? The argument for guns, of course, is that criminals will always get guns no matter what, which is true.

I find it hard to consider those children pulling the trigger, as harden criminals, and this comes from a former prosecutor who has done many jury trials and placed many defendants behind bars.

When you place guns into the hands of hormone racing prepubescent teenagers, it is a very volatile situation with a catastrophe waiting to happen. There should definitely be a licensing law requiring anyone who owns firearms, that they be stored in a certain type of childproof gun cabinet that is certified by the State and Federal government. There should be mandatory inspections in the home of these specific cabinets. If you want to own a firearm, you should be required to fall under the strictest rules. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) would of course oppose these Fourth Amendment Violations. The legal way around the Fourth Amendment would be to have individuals agree by contract to these items. Somewhat similar to the way you agree to take the Breathalyzer, by contract, when you are stopped for an operating under the influence. This is done when you sign the piece of paper for your first driver’s license.

Is the home life of these child criminals filled with violence between the parents? Is there a solution to this problem? Are these isolated situations or the norm for America today? I only have questions with few solutions. One thing I do know is that the Criminal Justice System is not a fix to the problem, because by then it is too late.

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