School Shootings in the United States - Literature review Example

Student Name: Instructor name: Unit Name: Date: SCHOOL SHOOTINGS A “MORAL PANIC” IN THE UNITED STATES. Introduction This essay looks at how the various cases of school shootings in the United States have been handled by the media and how the actions of the media have greatly contributed to the school shootings being termed as “moral panic.” The paper critically reviews the various school shootings and analyses how specific incidences of school shootings were handled by the media, authorities and the general public and how the whole handling of the issue contributed to them being termed as ‘moral panic’. The essay will particularly be centred on the theory of moral panic as argued by Cohen. The essay particularly analyses the famous Columbine High School massacre and tries to relate it to Cohen’s theory on ‘moral panic.’ The paper finally gives a conclusion on the issues of School shooting and gives a personal opinion on the repercussions if the issues are not dealt with accordingly. SCHOOL SHOOTINGS A ‘MORAL PANIC.’ Stanley Cohen (1980) used the phrase ‘moral panic’ to refer to the response given by the community in relation to information or speculations received that someone or something is putting the community at risky therefore need for urgent measures to prevent occurrence of the perceived threats so as to protect the society. They public sees this as a hazard to the wider society therefore undermining the principles and the cultural beliefs of a particular community. The dangers posed by this particular group of people are usually a concern because they cause worries among the public domain hence attract a lot of attention from the media, public and even those in authority. Moral panics therefore portrays the behaviour and response portrayed by the society, media and those in authority due to the occurrence of conflicts in order to prevent further occurrence of more tensions. He identifies its features as ‘a state, occurrence, someone or group of people who or that are likely to pose a risk to the collective beliefs, norms and principles of the community’ (Cohen, 1987: p.9). Cohen further emphasises on the manner in which the media manipulates these unfortunate occurrences by giving them a lot of coverage and intentionally manipulating the truth by implying that the occurrences need urgent intervention nationally and yet the issues can be handled cautiously within that specific area of occurrence to avoid causing public panic in the entire country. Cohen carried out a study in relation to the youth culture where he demonstrated that a particular group of people were not fit to be in the society because in one way or another they were involved in activities that undermined the collective values and principles in which the wider community believed in. He illustrated the manner in which the community perceived and treated the Mods and Rockers. According to Cohen (1980), these groups were believed to be a danger to the community because they had particularly undermined the strong beliefs and principles the society respected and stood for therefore making them cultural and social outsiders. The society completely disapproved of their actions since they were not only illegal but the media had portrayed them as a danger to the security of the community hence the need for legal action to be taken against them. He argues that in the process of trying to punish the perpetrators folk-devils are created to hide the fact that the entire society is to blame in one way or another (Eldridge, 1997). The main basics of moral panic in line with Thompson (1998) include: 1. Someone or something is distinctly described as a danger to beliefs or principles of the society ; 2. The danger is distinct and is portrayed by the media in a much more noticeable manner; 3. Occurrence of worries in the society within the shortest time possible. 4. Those in leadership or in power reacts to the outrage from the society; 5. The anxiety is followed by major changes in the society; The various moral panics that have occurred in the contemporary society comprise school shooting, drug abuse, terrorism and HIV&AIDS. The impact of this terror can be attributed to the bad conduct of students, parents and the staff of the learning institutions. The scenes linked with school violence as portrayed by the media are usually of public concern and involve physical attacks (Barack, 1994). Those involved in committing crimes of violence are usually linked to decayed morals, evil and many believe that they lack sympathy and behave in a cold manner towards other people. Information concerning violence is sometimes exaggerated and depicted by the media as a major issue that puts the entire society at risk and lays the blame on both the perpetrators and victims of violence. This behaviour therefore makes it difficult to genuinely find a legitimate solution that is correct both politically, socially and morally to ensure justice and prevent occurrence of similar offences (Barak 1994). The phrase ‘school shooting’ is used to describe the occurrence of acts of violence within the vicinity of a learning institution. The perpetrators can either be learners, other members of staff or non students. One of the school shooting incidents is that that occurred at Columbine High School in the United States (Centre for Media and Public Affairs, 2000). In this particular shooting event the perpetrators murdered twelve students and one teacher and injured twenty four students on the school campus before killing themselves. This was contrary to the reports released later from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics that indicated that the massacre was originally intended to be a bombing after which those who survived were to be shot. Many analysts claim the manner in which the news agencies handle issues related with delinquency have in one way or another contributed to violence experienced in the United States while others argue that movies and video games have contributed to the school violence (Ferguson, 2008). The school shootings are given extensive media coverage and yet they occur less frequently. In the United States, they have occasionally resulted to a complete overhaul of the various rules and regulations particularly those concerning discipline and security of the students. However, many have argued that regardless of the shootings, schools remain tremendously secure places for children, and currently in the United States, the cases of school violence have greatly reduced than they were some time back. Even though numbers of cases of school shootings experienced in the United States are at relatively lower numbers, analysts say information concerning youth violence are used by the media to divert the public from the actual status of affairs in schools. For example, in 1998 the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that twenty nine % of all teenagers believed drug use or abuse was the major problem facing kids followed by social pressures, academic performance, and issues concerning morality. The number of youth who believed that school violence and juvenile delinquency was the major issue of concern was only five% (Maguire and Pastore, 1999). Studies further show that in1997; parents indicated that finance and lack of good morals and good behaviour as the major issue of concern in schools that needed to be addressed at fifteen % each. Drug use and abuse among the young people came third while the issues with violence in schools came fourth. This however changed in 1998 when research carried out showed that both parents and children had changed their views concerning the major issues affecting the young people. They both graded school violence as a major issue at twenty % (Maguire and Pastore1999). Analysts argued that both parents and children had changed their opinion because of the constant coverage of crime and violence by the news media therefore causing pain and fear among the public. These actions from the media instilled terror in the society thus giving crime an unsuitably elevated grade on the public schedule (Surette, 1992). Hence the need for a greater emphasis on the relationship between the news agencies and the judicial system when dealing with violence. Several incidents of school shootings in the United states have resulted in a break-through for the mass media to come up with a thematic routinisation of causes related to crimes in school particularly juvenile delinquency (Moody, 1998). What was an unusual occurrence that required urgent measures hence important to be covered in the news was now a normal occurrence. The media exaggerated issues related with school violence giving them a lot of unnecessary attention. This therefore instilled terror among the public therefore contributing to fears of violent teens, resulting in changes in public policy such as government gave financial assistance to schools to put in place mechanisms that would ensure security and prompting public expenditure and an increase in security technology purchases that were in line with Fishman’s (1978) claim that the manner in which the mass media dealt with issues related to violence greatly determined the kind of rules and regulations that were instituted therefore resulting in panic in the society. Mass Execution at Columbine High School The mass murder of students and a teacher took place in April 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado, United States. In this particular school shooting event two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed twelve students and a teacher. They also injured twenty four others (Clabaugh, 2005). From this particular incidence the major features of moral panic were evident: ‘Someone or something is distinctly described as a danger to beliefs or principles’ According to the reports from the United States media one of the perpetrators Erick Harris invented his personal website. The site was created with the aim of entertaining their pals. These postings were said to contain messages that promoted evil. In this site the perpetrators conveyed how they felt about those they interacted with including their tutors, family, colleagues and pals. Their negative attitude towards the community was evidently portrayed. Towards the end of the year, the site had directives on how to misbehave as well as information on how to build explosives, and postings of the mess he and Klebold were causing. In addition, the site showed that Klebold and Harris were furious boys. Contrary to reports by the media that Kleboid and Harris were angry to a particular group of people such as sportsmen, Christians or certain races they directed their hatred and anger to everyone. Harris indicated in his personal diary that he detested and despised the whole world including those who were discriminative against other races, martial art experts, and all those who boosted about their cars. ‘This danger is distinct and is portrayed by the media in a much more noticeable manner’ On January 30, 1998, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were apparatus that had been reported missing from a stationary car. Reports from the United States Secret Service (2002) indicated that prior to the attacks; the shooters bought firearms and shotguns by the help of a friend. Students in Columbine High School, media and the public in general termed the shooters as social and cultural outcasts not fit to be in the society. After the shootings, information in relation to youth culture received a lot of coverage from the news media. These students were labelled social outcasts who lacked sympathy and were not fit to be part of the society. ‘Occurrence of worries among the public within the shortest time possible’ Immediately after the massacre there was public concern on how the boys had managed to execute their plan without anyone noticing anything strange from their behaviour and actions. Parents especially those whose children had been killed raised their concerns on the safety of their children (Centre for Media and Public Affairs, 2000). In addition there were intense debates and arguments on what had really encouraged the perpetrators to carry out the massacre and whether the shootings could have been stopped in any way. The massacre provoked debates and discussions in relation to policies regulating the use and accessibility of guns and firearms in the country, and also policies on the kind of punishment to be given to the young people involved in committing criminal offences using guns. Much discussion also concentrated on the character of high school crimes, subcultures, and bullying, as well as the role played by films containing violent scenes and video games in American society. The shooting resulted in an increased emphasis on school security, and a moral panic aimed at dark culture, social outsiders, the use of guns by the youth, the use of drugs by the youth, violent films and songs advanced information technology by the young people (Centre for Media and Public Affairs,2000). ‘Those in leadership or in power react to the public worry’ According to Cohen, one of the features in the construction of a moral panic is when there is a reaction from those in leadership in relation to the incident causing panic. This was particularly evident after the Columbine shootings; President Clinton announced specific regulations requiring routine investigations on those selling explosives and making sure that parents of those children involved in crimes are held responsible for not instilling discipline and morality in their kids. In his speech to the nation President Clinton asserted that the issue of school violence had instilled terror among the public and emphasised on the need to crack down on youth delinquency to avert occurrence of tensions related to school violence. However the president appreciated that generally the level of incidences related to teenage delinquency had greatly reduced in relation to the past (Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice 1999). Even though cases of youth related crimes had gradually reduced, the news media continued giving false information contrary to the real situation on the ground. For instance, CNN reported that school violence was becoming more and more popular in the United States. Vincent Schiraldi, the director of the Justice Policy Institute, told his audience that school shooting was not so frequent and it was exaggerated and yet people could at the same rate die from other ways. Katie Couric; a TV show host affirmed that modern youth are more likely to use a gun when confronting one another (Barry, 1999). In addition, schools in the United States put in place safety measures such as transparent backpacks, metal detectors, and security guards. A number learning institutions enforced regulations requiring school doors to be numbered to facilitate quick emergence responses in cases the security of students was threatened. Several schools throughout the country made it mandatory for students to wear more advanced IDS to help track down intruders. The police unit was criticised over the manner in which it acted during the Columbine massacre a move that resulted in a complete overhaul of policies within the police department. In addition, they revaluated their emergency strategies to be able to deal with similar situations like those in the Columbine massacre. In response to concerns over the causes of Columbine and other school massacres, some schools instituted new school regulations forbidding intimidation and harassment of students by other students as well strict rules to govern against risky behaviours and use of guns and firearms. A year later various policies were enacted in the country that required installation of security locks on firearms as well as a prohibiting the buying of magazines that contained information on more advanced firearms and guns. It was felt that most of the young people were motivated to buy firearms after reading these magazines. In addition, laws were passed that made it a crime to buy guns for criminals and minors. In 2008, Harrold Independent School District in Texas permitted teachers with state-issued firearms permits to carry their fire- arms in the classroom. However those teachers who wished to comply with the rules were supposed to receive some training on the manner in which they could use their guns. In addition, Utah University permitted students to carry concealed guns as long as they abided by the recommended state licence regulations. ‘The anxiety is followed by major changes in the society’ Manes, the boy accused of having helped buy guns for the perpetrators was jailed after the massacre for selling firearms to minors. Philip Duran, who had introduced the perpetrators to Manes, was also sentenced to life imprisonment. Those in authority such as first lady Hillary Clinton used this event to emphasise on the decline of the society values and principles (Sobieraj, 1999). She publicly accused the entertainment industry and waged attacks against the entertainment industry for idolising the use of guns (Fleeman, 1999. She also condemned those who opposed gun control legislation; a law that could help curb the illegal use of guns especially by minors and criminals (Fleeman, 1999). I will conclude by stating that the school shootings that have been experienced in the United States are of great concern to many especially to parents. The parents need to be assured by the school administrators that their children will be in safe hands under their care. Therefore, school officials should put in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure that students safety is of top priority and in case the safety of students seem to be threatened in any way they should act promptly with much caution. However, it should be understood that the school violence incidences should be handled with much caution especially by the media and other concerned stakeholders in order to avoid the unnecessary panic that may arise. It should be made clear that such killings can occur anywhere even in the streets hence the media should avoid depicting learning institutions as unsafe places. It very essential to keep in mind that to some extent, the media generalizes school violence, based on specific rare incidences that result in extensive panic in the society that schools do not provide a safe environment for students. Contrary to beliefs these views crimes associated with school violence occur less frequently. Therefore policies and regulations that are to be enforced in order to crack down on school shootings should be critically analysed basing on the right recommendations put forward by various researchers. In addition, the regulations as well as programs and the assumptions upon which they are based should be cautiously investigated and scrutinised before informing the public. References Barak, G. (1994). Media, Process and the Social Construction of Crime: Studies in News making Criminology. New York and London: Garland Publishing. Barry, G. (1999). The Culture of Fear: Why Americans are Afraid of the Wrong Things. New York: Basic Books. Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Center for Education Statistics. (1999). ‘Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 1998.’Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved August 19, 2001 http://www.ed.gov/pubs/AnnSchoolRept98/index.html Clabaugh, G. (2005). Bad Apples or Sour Pickles? Fundamental Attribution Error and the Columbine Massacre: Educational Horizon publishers. Cohen, S. (1980). Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of the Mods and Rockers (New Edition). Oxford, UK: Martin Robertson. Cohen, S. and Jock Y. (1981). 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