Gun Violence Prevention? PDF
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GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION? The Politics Behind Policy Responses to School Shootings in the United States Selina E. M. Kerr Gun Violence Prevention? Selina E. M. Kerr Gun Violence Prevention? The Politics Behind Policy Responses to School Shootings in the United States Selina E. M. Kerr Independent Researcher Glasgow, UK ISBN 978-3-319-75312-6 ISBN 978-3-319-75313-3 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75313-3 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018934694 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover illustration: Abstract Bricks and Shadows © Stephen Bonk/Fotolia.co.uk Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer International Publishing AG part of Springer Nature. The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland Dedicated with love to my dad. • P reface At the time of the Dunblane school shooting in 1996, I was a nine-year- old child living in Scotland. I then became afraid to attend school in case a shooting occurred. This was exacerbated by my teacher at school prepar- ing students in the class for a future incident, questioning where they would hide and how they would seek help. The Dunblane school shooting was a momentous incident for the United Kingdom, affecting security policies at schools across the nation and resulting in a ban on private own- ership of handguns. I was intrigued about how such an atypical event could have such a momentous impact. The United Kingdom has never had another school shooting incident. After learning of the numerous school shootings occurring in the United States, I decided to investigate policy responses to the most high-profile incidents. Building upon the work started in my doctoral thesis looking at news media constructions and policy responses to school shootings in the United States, this book examines the gun-related policy debates and actions following three high-profile incidents: Columbine, Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook. The specific focus is on the role ‘gun violence preven- tion’ interest groups play in the process alongside other key players like the news media and the three branches of the US government. Discussed within this book are the policy proposals and responses centring on restricting access to guns and types of weapons, alongside the alternative of recommending expanding gun rights to defend against school shooting perpetrators. This book will be of interest to researchers working in the field of US politics, gun violence and mass violence. Students in sociology, vii viii PREFACE social policy and criminology modules are also a key audience for this book. It is possible that this book could also be used to inform policy work around gun regulations in the United States. As a British researcher examining guns in the United States, it has been particularly interesting to extensively research the history, laws and politics of another country. Whilst my hope is that this book will offer some insight into gun violence prevention measures and recommendations, I recognise that the United States has a different culture and history to the United Kingdom and my intention is not to advocate that the United States becomes more like the United Kingdom. Personally, I have a ‘special rela- tionship’ with the United States and I am compelled to continue to research it. I am grateful for all the help I was provided with during the course of writing this book. I am grateful to Palgrave first of all for the opportunity to publish work on what I believe is a very important topic. I would like to extend my gratitude to my research participants for taking part in inter- views, some of them multiple times. I am also appreciative of my stepfa- ther, husband and mother for taking the time to proofread drafts of chapters. I would also like to thank my husband for being there for the past ten years. I am also grateful for all the other assistance and support I have received from family and friends. This book is dedicated to my dad. Glasgow, UK Selina E. M. Kerr c ontents 1 I ntroduction 1 2 A Partisan Issue? Policy-Making and Guns in the United States 31 3 Columbine School Shooting 57 4 Virginia Tech Shooting 73 5 Sandy Hook School Shooting 93 6 Conclusion 111 Appendix 133 Glossary 137 Index 141 ix L t ist of abLes Table 1.1 Total news media content 15 Table 1.2 Feature articles and letters to the editor 16 xi CHAPTER 1 Introduction Abstract ‘School shootings’ are a form of targeted violence, where perpe- trators aim to kill as many people as possible within a short period of time. This chapter explains why school shootings despite being relatively rare events within the wider spectrum of gun violence have the potential to give it salience and define the parameters of policy debates. Discussed thereafter is the importance of the ‘framing’ of gun violence after school shootings to allow for policy solutions to be formed. Background context is provided about the three school shooting case studies selected for analy- sis. A detailed overview of the news media analyses and interviews con- ducted as part of the research for this book is then documented. A roadmap to the structure of the book is then provided. Keywords School shootings • Framing • Case studies • News media • Policy solutions Gun Violence PreVention? Columbine. Virginia Tech. Sandy Hook. These are all infamous terms, epitomising horror and the tragic loss of life in a school environment. What one does not immediately associate with these incidents, however, are radical changes in gun legislation in the United States. As I write this, the worst mass shooting in the country’s history, the ‘Las Vegas massacre’ at a country music festival, has just taken place, killing 58 and injuring © The Author(s) 2018 1 S. E. M. Kerr, Gun Violence Prevention?, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75313-3_1
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