I don't really count the most famous of the '78 shootings - the kid got pissed off at a principal who had paddled his ass the day before - he brought a gun to school to shoot his principal, not to wreak havoc on the general populace.
Actually I think Roger Needham's shooting was worse, killing one student and wounding another (in 1978). And in 1974, Anthony Barbaro broke into his highschool, set several figres, shot at people responding to the fire alarm; killing three and wounding 9 (which is actually a higher death count than Kipland himself, who - while wounding plenty, only ended up killing two). He then killed himself.
Serious school shootings were happening in the 70s, and they certainly weren't happening in a comparable nature elsewhere in the world like the UK or Australia. The US has had its own growing epidemic, for a long long time.
I'm including teenagers, look at Brenda Spencer in 1979; 16 and kiling two adults, 8 children and one policeman. The song 'I don't like mondays' is written after her - her primary reason for why she decided to kill in the first place.
Granted shootings did go quite quiet in the 80s, but I think the groundwork was laid in the 70s.
The US 'right to bear arms' has a lot to answer for; while the gun association can go nuts about statistics talking about how citizens owning guns reduces shootings - the fact remains that no other country that actually restricts firearm access in a logical way experiences problems relating to shootings like the US does.
Also, I think that when teenagers are further isolated by the general populace (i.e. being treated like criminals before they are criminals, or being avoided simply for the way they look) it creates a larger problem; since most teen shooters are incredibly isolated and not popular.
Reverse ageism has a lot to answer for also, there is a growing epidemic of older people who persecute, condemn, or simply try not to understand teenagers who look different or act different. I experienced it myself as a teenager, and found it reprehensible.
That is also a growing epidemic, and when adults start treating teenagers like they're guilty before they've been proven innocent, with the added benefits of firearms and bullying, you have a great breeding ground for isolation, deviance and violence.
Re: School Shootings
Actually I think Roger Needham's shooting was worse, killing one student and wounding another (in 1978). And in 1974, Anthony Barbaro broke into his highschool, set several figres, shot at people responding to the fire alarm; killing three and wounding 9 (which is actually a higher death count than Kipland himself, who - while wounding plenty, only ended up killing two). He then killed himself.
Serious school shootings were happening in the 70s, and they certainly weren't happening in a comparable nature elsewhere in the world like the UK or Australia. The US has had its own growing epidemic, for a long long time.
I'm including teenagers, look at Brenda Spencer in 1979; 16 and kiling two adults, 8 children and one policeman. The song 'I don't like mondays' is written after her - her primary reason for why she decided to kill in the first place.
Granted shootings did go quite quiet in the 80s, but I think the groundwork was laid in the 70s.
The US 'right to bear arms' has a lot to answer for; while the gun association can go nuts about statistics talking about how citizens owning guns reduces shootings - the fact remains that no other country that actually restricts firearm access in a logical way experiences problems relating to shootings like the US does.
Also, I think that when teenagers are further isolated by the general populace (i.e. being treated like criminals before they are criminals, or being avoided simply for the way they look) it creates a larger problem; since most teen shooters are incredibly isolated and not popular.
Reverse ageism has a lot to answer for also, there is a growing epidemic of older people who persecute, condemn, or simply try not to understand teenagers who look different or act different. I experienced it myself as a teenager, and found it reprehensible.
That is also a growing epidemic, and when adults start treating teenagers like they're guilty before they've been proven innocent, with the added benefits of firearms and bullying, you have a great breeding ground for isolation, deviance and violence.