The Shot Heard Around the World: The Epidemic of Mass School Shootings

• In Event: Poster Group 5
  In Poster Session: The Shot Heard Around the World: The Epidemic of Mass School Shootings

Proposal

Mass school shootings have become a worldwide epidemic and have warranted many protests by civilians. Especially since schools are meant to be a safe space physically, emotionally, and mentally for all within those four walls.
Since the early 2000’s there have been a total of 482 reported school shootings within the United States of America. Of those 482, this research will consider the three most deadly mass school shootings that have occurred since Columbine in April of 1999. Those being the events that occurred at Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
This research aims to look through the lens of human rights theories to better understand what policies were in place before and enacted after those three specific schools were targeted. More specifically, this research will build upon existing literature on the topic since, specific literature on policies within schools to prevent and protect those from mass school shootings is still limited, and primarily suggests that legislative action such as gun policy laws have been the main response to such events. Lastly, this research will consider how these policies are addressing long term effects of those effected by school shootings. As existing research suggests that the damage done after school shootings translates into high dropout rates, mental health issues, and later students’ inability to find employment.
Serbia tragically experienced its first ever mass school shooting in May 2023, and its people have not stopped protesting, but their voices have not been heard. Following this tragedy, there have only been two proposals on how to move forward. One being that the country should revisit previous collaboration done with Finland to implement some of their safety measures and policies on student well being, and the other to demolish the school impacted by the school shootings and build a new one. Since May there has not been much or any progress within the Serbian government so this research hopefully will shape further research on policy and practice that could be beneficial to other countries who are experiencing these unfortunate events for the first time.

Author

• Jelisaveta Janicijevic Agatonovic