Gun Violence in Schools. Evaluations of Options and Alternatives

Gun Violence in Schools
Abstract
The identified area of health policy to be studied is gun violence in schools. In recent years, gun violence has increased in schools and more lives are being affected on a regular basis and it is becoming a challenge to live safe lives when gun violence is prevalent. This is a significant problem and public health issue because gun violence results in deaths and injuries to loved ones and has huge financial implications. The annual cost of gun violence in America is $229 billion. The policy goals are to end gun violence in American schools and to prevent deaths associated with gun violence. Possible alternatives include parents avoiding open exposure of guns to their children at home, making the laws that govern the licensing and purchasing of guns a lot harsher, and increasing mental health access to students with mental health issues.
Policy Problem: Gun Violence in Schools
One of the aspects that set America apart from other countries is the respect of freedom and rights of individuals. The second Amendment of the constitution describes the right of people of the United States to possess a firm arm and this right shall not be infringed by the government. Freedom is closely guarded and perhaps it is this strict observance of individual rights that has created loopholes in gun control laws. Today, America reports more cases of gun violence among school going students than any other country in the world. This problem is indicative of a society that is almost heading out of control due to the freedom given and protected by the constitution. The aim of this research paper is to examine the status of gun violence in schools in America. The discussion includes background of the policy problem, policy goals and objectives, evaluation of options and alternatives, and nursing implications.
Background
Gun violence in American schools is becoming a crisis that must be quickly addressed. According to statistics, more than 215,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine High School massacre in 1999, and 141 children, teachers, and other school staff have been killed in school shootings and more than 287 have been injured (Gold, 2015). Since January 2018, there have been 17 school shootings which include the deadliest shooting of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Florida, where a 19-year-old brought a legally bought AR 15 rifle and killed 17 people including students and staff. A recent shooting also occurred at Santa Fe High school in Texas where a 17-year-old teenager brought his father’s legally purchased gun to school and killed 10 people and wounded 10 others including students and staff. It is very unfortunate that school going children are now packing more than just books and are bringing loaded guns into the school environment. Gun violence causes deaths and injuries to innocent people including school staff and fellow learners. According to a report by the Gun Violence Archive, there are 558 reported incidents of gun violence that took place in 2016 and 2017 (Aggers & Luke, 2017). Although the incidents vary in scale and type, they all involved school going students going on a rampage and in so doing causing threat, fear, injury, and in some cases fat...