The Public's Opinion

Why do you think that all mass shootings (or even school shootings) do not demand the same level of response from the public? In other words, why do you think that people report in polls that they follow some shootings more than others?

I feel as though some of these mass shootings are receiving more attention or they draw more attention from the public because some mass shootings or school shootings are more gruesome than others, therefore the media tends to report them as full coverage stories. So the public, in turn, pays more attention to those reports. The media also includes so many details in their reports that people get so invested in these tragedies. However, I believe that our media is a broken system that can actually end up contributing to even more gruesome mass shootings occurring. If a shooter chooses to execute their violent plan, a lot of the time it is because they desire national attention. So, if they observe the media and figure out that the most gruesome mass shootings are the ones that gain the shooters the most attention, they are going to want to try and outdo those shooters in an attempt to gain themselves even more attention. It is unfortunate that our media decides how many minutes a story is going to get based on how many possible casualties. This system need’s to change so that those other violent individuals know that they will not be rewarded with the attention they were desiring through violence. That along with keeping their stories as brief as possible so they know that they will not become one of the household names other shooters have become.  

Which finding from public opinion polls surprised you the most? Which do you think you were least surprised by? Why? 

Something that really surprised me from the public opinion polls was fleeting the effects of these tragedies seemed to be. For example, gun control was a major topic at the time of Columbine. But, afterwards the issue of gun control in our country was pushed to the back while the public focused on the next story. This was really heartbreaking to me because it appears as though if there is not a current tragedy surrounding an issue, the public will not push as much for change. The push for change should not be a result of fear from a present moment, but rather it should be a desire to prevent this from happening in the future. What did not really surprise me from these polls was how many students reported knowing of another student who had brought or actively brought a weapon to school. Although frightening, plenty of my friends from my past three schools in Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and Queens would tell me about a student who they knew always carried a weapon. And this is an issue I feel should be taking priority for these schools. Although time consuming, bag searches or metal detectors could be a great way to eliminate any weapons from school. As well as inform authorities about new and possibly dangerous students. 

Sources: 

Schildkraut, J. & Muschert, G. W. (2019). Columbine, 20 years later and beyond: Lessons from tragedy