Monitor: The American press reacts to the shootings at Columbine High School
All the News of the World
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A SCHOOL is supposed to be a place of security and even tranquillity, yet once again America has witnessed a violent rampage on school grounds. It is shocking to review the long list of school shootings in the past two years. We don't really know what the explanation is and don't care to speculate right now. The moment is too solemn, the blood-letting too extensive for the mind to even grasp. For the time being, our thoughts remain focused solely on those whose lives now will never be the same.
Denver Rocky Mountain News
IT IS not too early to begin drawing lessons. One is that schools must become more adept at spotting potential troublemakers before they resort to gunfire. Another obvious lesson - but one largely forgotten after the shock of last year's spate of school shootings wore off - is the urgent need for concerted action by Congress, state legislatures and gun manufacturers to keep guns out of the hands of troubled youngsters. School shootings had been in decline this year, but yesterday's blasts in Colorado are a grim reminder that guns are still too readily available.
The New York Times
SOME LATE reports suggest that the killers were on a suicide mission against minorities and athletes. Whoever the targets might be, the truth is that public schools simply cannot be fortresses from the world that surrounds them.
Students are inevitably left vulnerable to the anomalous acts that erupt outside the normal patterns of crime and violence. That's no comfort after a day of savage killing. But amid so much sorrow, what comfort can there be?
USA Today
YESTERDAY, IN Colorado, two gunmen stormed a suburban high school, firing down hallways with automatic weapons, murdering and wounding a score of terrified students. In Tallahassee, Gov Jeb Bush signed into law a bill relaxing Florida's feeble restraints on firearms. In the face of horrific carnage, politicians stand all too ready to embrace laws that encourage the availability and accessibility of firearms.
Miami Herald
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments