Gun Violence and School Safety in the US

Gun violence has been a critical issue undermining school safety in the United States over the last three decades. However, statistics show that the problem has increasingly reached surge levels, raising concern among American policymakers, including the presidency and Congress, since 2012, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School attack (PBS, 2014). The PBS (2014) news article outlines poor parenting, easier access to firearms, mental health issues, less value to humanity and sanctity of life, and exposure to violent video games among children of a young age as the leading causes of increasing gun violence in American schools. Consequently, many schools have implemented notable measures such as installing surveillance cameras and security guards, metal detectors, locking classrooms, and dress codes to curb the menace (PBS, 2014). However, such measures have significantly failed to address the threat to desirable levels, as it is among the leading causes of death among school-going children and youth. Retrospectively, this essay offers a comprehensive appraisal of investing in mental health treatment among students, creating a healthy culture of brotherhood among students, and having armed police to guard schools as the best measures of curbing gun violence within US elementary schools and colleges.

Firstly, investing resources to monitor and treat mental health issues among students is one of the best viable measures in addressing gun violence in the US today. According to PBS (2014), many attacks on US elementary schools are perpetuated by males confronting mental health issues and hopelessness. In detail, according to Price & Khubchandani (2019), schools should expand their mental health services to their students, as it is a cost-effective intervention for reducing violence-causing risk factors such as bullying. Former students with mental health issues have carried out many mass shootings within the US after experiencing bullying from fellow students. For instance, in 2023, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, a former transgender student of Christian Elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, opened fire, killing three children and three staff, before the police shot her dead. Based on Price and Khubchandani’s (2019) analysis, adequate investment in mental health issues treatment services within the school could address such instances amicably by facilitating self and social acceptance of all students, mitigating the effects of bullying, facilitating peer mediation, and peaceful conflict resolution within the school.

Having counselors, other mental health advocates, and social workers can help identify mental health issues and initiate effective control measures among students promptly. According to PBS (2014), mental health resources such as counselors, after-care programs, and social workers can improve mental health among students and cultivate peaceful coexistence. Practically, students who are openly subjected to bullying or other discriminatory activities within the school by fellow students or staff will feel confident to share their experiences with counselors for help. Similarly, such counselors will identify, through the help of students and teachers, students with aggressive and outgoing behaviors and help them to shun such behavior, which is a significant risk factor for gun violence. Counselors can also bring on board parents and guardians and address issues of safekeeping and proper handling of assault weapons to prevent easier access to guns among children (PBS, 2014). Therefore, mental health resources such as counselors and social workers are practical tools for identifying students with mental health problems and offering them effective treatment. Such services successfully change students' aggressive behavior and emotional baggage, significant risk factors for gun violence in schools.

Creating a healthy culture of brotherhood among students can help address instances of gun violence in American schools. The US is a multiracial country frequented by pre-existing stereotypes and prejudices against racial minorities and people of low socioeconomic status. Therefore, due to such stereotypes, racial minorities, people of color are subjected to systemic and structural discrimination, which triggers aggressive behavior among the victims. However, such discrimination and its aftermath can be mitigated by cultivating a healthy school culture of love and being a brother's keeper. According to PBS (2014), such a culture would facilitate peaceful coexistence among students of different races and ethnicities. Consequently, the culture can lead to students reporting any instances of negative behavior change among fellow students to adults, such as teachers and counselors, for an effective response.

Alternatively, armed law enforcement officers in all American schools can reduce gun violence. According to Al Jazeera (2013), 64% of Americans supported having police guard schools as they can effectively and timely intercept gunmen entering schools before reaching classrooms. As the American saying goes, "The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun!" Police have adequate skills and intelligence to spot armed persons and act accordingly to stop an attack. In the Nashville Christian school attack, the transgender teenage attacker was killed by the police at last. If the police had been present within the school, guarding the premises, the attacker would have been intercepted earlier, and the number of casualties would have been reduced.

In conclusion, expanding school mental health resources and services, creating a healthy school culture of love and brotherhood, and installing law enforcement officers to guard schools are the best measures to curb gun violence in the US. Based on the cost-benefit analysis perspective, the government already pays law enforcement officers, and such measures will not incur any additional costs for schools. Similarly, creating a healthy culture of love and brotherhood requires teachers to work with local social workers and guardians to model to students respect for each other, no matter ethnicity or racial differences. Although hiring mental health experts, such as counselors, within schools may have high costs, the positive impact of the initiative is worth the price.