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School Violence


            On December 1, Michael Carneal opened fire in the lobby of his high school just as a Morning Prayer group was breaking up. Killing 3 and wounding 5 with the .22 caliber pistol he allegedly stole. Defense attorney's filed a motion to let their client plead mentally ill on all charges. A defense psychiatric report characterizes Carneal as suffering from a form of chronic depression accompanied by feelings of low self-esteem and worthlessness. He also showed traits of paranoia and schizophrenia like personality disorder that results in a social and emotional detachment. (http://www.onlineathens.com/1998/100498/1004.a3spree.html).
             Since 1996 there have been over 23 school related shootings all over the United States, from New York, New York, to Bethel, Alaska. Like, Michael Carneal, many of the other students involved in these incidents suffered from some kind of emotional problem. It seems to me that individuals with behavior disorders are involved in more incidents than their non-violent peers.
             It is not to say that every student who suffers from depression will walk into a school and just start shooting. There are literally millions of children with the same or similar diagnosis who do not. (http://www.add.about.com/library/weekly/aa052599.htm) However, there is evidence that students who do suffer from depression or ADHD are more likely to commit acts of violence in their school. For instance, Shawn Cooper, a 15-year-old sophomore was suffering from a bipolar disorder when he fired two shotgun rounds narrowly missing students and school staff. Likewise, TJ Solomon, a 15 year old, at Heritage High School in Conyers GA, was being treated for depression when he open fire on and wounded six classmates. (http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1571/24_15/54968252/print.jhtml) There are countless cases that follow this pattern. In fact, every one of the recent school shootings that have taken place involved a student who suffered from a behavior disorder.


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