Cornelia Schneider: Sadly, it’s not whether a school shooting will happen; it’s when and where

To The Daily Sun,

School will soon begin, and with it comes crisp fall weather, a few new clothes, homework, and school shootings. Sadly, it’s not whether a school shooting will happen. It’s when and where.

As a parent, I was lucky. Our son experienced most of his school age years during the 10-year ban of the AR-15, from 1994 to 2004. President Bill Clinton signed the ban which stopped the sale of these military-style weapons for those 10 years. And yes, they most definitely are military-style. The Armalite AR-15 was designed for infantrymen in the 1950s, and after some minor modifications, became the well-known M-16, the standard issue assault weapon used in Vietnam. Simply put, the AR-15 and the M-16 are the Coke and Pepsi of the semi-automatic rifle world. One can tell the difference, but they are very similar guns.

Between 1994 and 2004, when President George W. Bush allowed the 10-year ban to sunset, our nation saw far lower numbers of mass shootings. A person living in the U.S. during that 10-year period was 70% less likely to die in a mass shooting than before or after that ban.

By golly. It was almost like a natural laboratory. Did we have a school shooting during that ban? Yes. Columbine occurred in 1999. But after the ban was lifted, school shootings and all mass shooting events increased significantly. If we were studying a drug and noticed this effect, the FDA would pull that drug off the market pretty darn quick. Too bad all we get from most political apparatchiks who are owned by the gun lobby are worthless thoughts and prayers. Hooray. It’s back to school. (Now where did I put my body armor?)

Cornelia Schneider

Moultonborough