Gun Violence In America's Schools

Why is it that the Columbine High School shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, have become the face of school violence within this country? Yes, they killed 13 individuals and wounded 23 others. They receive national attention because of their actions to this day, almost 10 years later. But what about the rest of those students murdered in America's schools?

From 1999-2001 there were over 38 school murders that received almost no publicity. Why have none of these 38 murders in Americas schools, almost three times the amount of the Columbine shootings, received the attention given to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold? Maybe its because they lack the sheer volume of bodies stacked up in Littleton, Colorado. Or maybe its because 30 of these student victims were of minority background. 6 of those 39 murdered in schools from 1999-2001 were adults killed by adults in schools, and 2 of those 39 murdered in American schools were kids killed by adults.

The media has a profound impact on what makes the front page of newspapers or the headlines of the nightly news. When whites die, we hear about. When minorities die, they die in silence.