Opinion | Editorials
Lessons from Columbine
Gun-related violence seems likely to continue in US unless laws are changed.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:01 April 21, 2009
It has been 10 years since two students at Columbine high School opened fire on the morning of April 20, 1999, killing 12 students and one teacher. About two dozen other students were injured during the 20 minutes of mayhem.
The scars of Columbine are still evident in American society. For all the pledges to restrict firearm sales and tighten gun-control laws, the United States still remains a society encumbered by its Constitutional right to bear arms.
Since Columbine, we have witnessed Amish angst as young pupils were mowed down, and at Virginia Tech, where students were targeted by a deranged enrolee. A sea of tears has been filled by the sorrow of relatives.
Above all, it is innocents who pay the price for the American fascination with firearms. Sadly, history has repeated itself since Columbine. And sadly it will likely continue to repeat itself until state and federal administrations become unfettered from the gun lobby.
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