Columbine Revisited

Before September 11, the defining moment in history for my generation was going to be April 20, 1999--the Columbine shooting. Its reign as single most important memory lasted only a little over 2 and a half years, but it certainly remains a crucial part of how I remember my adolescent life. I don't remember the day Columbine happened as much as that it was during April break, and that there was a meeting of the 8th grade class our first day back to school following the massacre. Guns, violence, and bullying were all discussed. We were invited to share our thoughts, and we were encouraged to seek out help from our teachers and parents should be begin to feel uncertain about our security at school. But what I remember most is the looks on my teachers' faces. The utter horror shielded by vague and forced attempts at calm on their faces haunts me still. They knew they had witnessed a shift in how our generation related to the world. Looking back, I don't understand how they weren't more visibly horrified. A lot has happened in the last decade. Thinking back on that day, I can't help but wonder if we haven't talked about Columbine nearly enough. Replaying that footage of SWAT officers charging a school every time another child opens fire on his or her peers is not good enough. Gun control is not something you can talk openly about in Texas--I still gasp when I see signs on doors of bars reminding patrons that their conceal-and-carry licenses are no good inside--but it's something that we as a nation have not talked about nearly enough. And yes, just removing guns from the equation isn't the answer. But it's a first step. And a far simpler one than trying to figure out what stitch was ill-executed to so greatly disrupt the fabric of our society that kids exercise anger with murder. Everyone who died at Columbine is owed more.