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Virtually all of us remember where we were and what we were doing on April 20, 1999 when we got the news there were shooters at Columbine High School (CHS). 

 There have been many acts of violence in schools before and since CHS, but for some reason this massacre seems to have set a 'standard' by which other acts of school violence are now often times compared and measured.

 I personally believe the reasons for this are many and varied: 

  • The level of detailed planning by the two perpetrators, 
  • Their 'legal' and illegal acquisition of weapons (Where'd They Get Their Guns?), 
  • Possible parental neglect or ignorance of what their sons were up to,
  • Lack of action from those in positions of authority prior to the massacre in spite of all the 'red flags' beforehand, 
  • Sensationalism from and in the media,
  • A lethal combination of weaponry (guns and crudely built bombs).

Momentum for 'change' in school safety and gun violence prevention was very strong nationally following the CHS massacre. Sadly, the 'Columbine Effect' began what can only be described as a 'wax and wane' conundrum for ensuing mass shootings.

After mass shootings, folks tend to believe a 'zenith' has been reached that will facilitate positive change only to have their hopes dashed soon after as people lose interest and move on with their own lives. It's an illogical cycle, plain and simple.

A lot of folks thought the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School would change things. Substitute the 'Connecticut Effect' for the 'Columbine Effect'. Positive change proved to be virtually impossible even though twenty grade schoolers and six educators were massacred.

 Now, we have 'March For Our Lives'. Hopefully, this advocacy movement will continue unabated.

 All that being said, this blog is not intended to delve into the 'why' of 'Columbine' or any other act of gun violence for that matter. Those things may be discussed, but they won't be the main focus of the blog.

 Rather, the main focus will be to provide a forum of sorts on a variety of subjects including, but not limited to:
  • School safety,
  • Gun violence prevention, 
  • Gun violence reform,
  • Mental illness,
  • Suicide prevention,
  • Emergency management,
  • and much more.

It will also be a forum in which people who've experienced trauma of their own have an opportunity to tell their own stories, to share their own experiences and journeys of healing as guest bloggers. This is an open invitation to those folks.

 Every once in awhile I might even kick in with a story of my own. 

Those willing to contribute and share their stories are encouraged to use the 'Contact Form' provided under my profile as a first step.

 When I receive a notification, I'll respond via email as soon as possible.

 Text of a submission can then be submitted to me for review and publication via email one of two ways:

  • As text in the body of an email reply to me,
  • As a Word file attachment to an email reply to me that contains the text.

Either way, I'll be able to copy and paste the text into the body of a post and publish to the blog.

 A digital 'selfie' would also be helpful, and will become the featured image for that person's guest post.

 Let's DO this!

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