ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses what has already been done to prevent school shootings in the United States and highlights risk factors for school shootings addressed in the literature. It explains the importance of school climate regarding school shootings. The chapter outlines school violence perceptions in the United States in the 1990s and school violence prevention before the Columbine shooting which focused on quantifiable disciplinary measures. Next, this chapter explains how school violence prevention after the Columbine shooting changed to focus on moral panic, blame, and zero-tolerance policies. The chapter continues with a section about addressing the problem without addressing the problem, examining why students want to harm each other or themselves in the first place. It also states that schools and teachers can only do so much to prevent school shootings without national gun reform. It next addresses the question of “Why schools?” looking at social control and symbolic violence, delinquency and crime, discipline and shame, and protecting and fearing youth.
