Ashlyn Davis, America’s School Shootings

Introduction

America has always been deemed as the nation that can make dreams become a reality. Over the last two decades, this outlook has substantially changed. Today, Americans have begun to realize that those dreams can easily be accompanied by nightmares. One issue that has progressively become detrimental is the depleting mental health of U.S. citizens. Mental illnesses, such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, psychosis, and psychopathy have all risen to power. These illnesses don’t just appear due to bad luck. There are several valid factors that may lead to their development. Early adverse life experiences and feelings of loneliness are great examples. Despite the public belief that poor mental health can just be “gotten over”, these components have extreme authority over mental stability. American Mental Health

Clinical depression is a mood disorder that causes a loss of interest in life and a tenacious feeling of sadness (Mayo Clinic). Over the years, the development of major depressive disorder has skyrocketed in

America. Depression rates alone have shown a fifty percent increase from 1990 to 2017 (Liu, He, Yang, Feng, Zhao, & Lyu). Since the illness is more common than others, the seriousness of it can be undervalued. When the disorder is not acknowledged, the victims can feel lonesome and pessimistic. Bottled up emotions in poor mental health victims can lead to outbursts that can be threatening to themselves and others.

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Some may believe that mental illnesses only affect the victim of the disorder. This view is incredibly flawed and needs to be addressed more in research. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, the mentioned disorders can negatively affect the entire nation. The effects can be seen in a very important pattern in history. Due to the depleted mental health in America, there has become a repetition in American school shootings. American School Shootings

On March 24, 1998, the first well known school shooting occurred in Craighead County, Arkansas. That morning, 11-year-old Andrew Golden and 13-yearold Mitchell Johnson ambushed Westside Middle School students and teachers. To begin their plan, Golden joined Johnson in a nearby field after activating a fire alarm inside the school. As nine teachers and eighty-seven students rushed out, the two young men fired handguns and rifles. Five victims were killed and ten others were injured in the catastrophe. They weren’t able to be charged as adults, so they were placed in the Department of Youth Services Facility in Saline County until their twenty-first birthdays (Encyclopedia of Arkansas). …

Two major shootings occurred in 2012. The first tragedy was in Oakland, California on April 2. One Goh, a 43-year-old former nursing student, walked into Oikos University to find a female administrator that expelled him earlier that year due to behavioral issues. When he couldn’t find her, he walked into a classroom with a handgun and forced students to stand and form a line. When they didn’t listen to his instructions, he began shooting. After killing classmates, he systematically shot others while exiting the building. He turned himself in to the police two hours after killing seven and injuring three (Gardner, Cooper, & Keneally). Goh was sentenced to seven years in prison-one for every victim-but died during holding (Kelly).

American Pattern

All of the disastrous shootings share a common cause: poor mental health. Most of the living shooters were not competent enough to even stand trial, and all but two of them showed signs of depression, schizophrenia, psychosis, and/ or psychopathy. As mentioned, eight of the twelve shooters committed suicide

after ambushing the schools. Statistics show that 90 percent of people who die by suicide have shown symptoms of a mental health condition. It’s upsetting to see the repercussions of poor mental stability, and it’s even more upsetting to know that the deaths could have been avoided if mental health needs were properly met. Mitchell Johnson was one of two shooters that didn’t show any signs of psychological health issues. He did, however, show signs of being traumatized. Growing up, Johnson lived with his abusive father who was described as “explosive” and “mean-tempered.” He was also repeatedly sexually assaulted by an older boy during his childhood (Langman). If those troubles don’t show the importance of a stable childhood, nothing will. Johnson’s accomplice, Andrew Golden, sat stone faced during their trial. Although there is not much published information on his mental health, Golden’s lawyer claimed that his client was incompetent to stand trial and insane at the time of the shooting (Bragg). … Shooter One Goh’s case may be the strangest and most concerning. As mentioned, Goh began his plan by searching for an administrator in the university. He wanted revenge because of his expulsion. Along with this craving for revenge came paranoia. The shooter had beliefs that the school administrators planted cameras inside his house, as well as a tracking device inside his car. His lawyer proved him incompetent to stand trial, and he was placed in a mental facility. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and suffered visual and auditory hallucinations. Afterreceiving treatment, he was finally sentenced to prison (Cohen). If treatment was given years earlier, lives would have been spared. Conclusion

As seen in every shooting case, trauma and poor mental stability have a huge impact on the actions of Americans. Mental illnesses have proven to be incredibly powerful time and time again. Consequences of these conditions not being properly diagnosed and treated include internal and external scars that will last a lifetime. Now, students around the nation have to practice shooting drills with fear that they could be the next victims. As administrators knock on doors around campuses during drills, chills rush through student bodies as they imagine a shooter behind the door. Practice makes perfect, but there shouldn’t have to be a perfected way to protect students. Those wounded in the massacres relive their experiences on a daily basis. It’s so sad to realize other lives were lost due to the problems that a few people faced. Statistics show that one in three children with mental disorders receive treatment (Simon). If three in three children were helped, the violence in America would decrease tremendously. Attention needs to be brought to the importance of the topic to stop future shootings, ultimately making the nation a safer place.