Echoes of Columbine

When searching for solutions to mass violence, the guns are only one factor in the overall picture. There have been several cases of mass murder that did not involve firearms at all. What follows are some of those incidents, which had many of the same hallmarks as a school shooting without the guns. Some feel these incidents are proof that gun control will not stop mass killings, which is sadly true. Some people are broken beyond what society can ever really understand. In places where guns are difficult to access, people have found other weapons sometimes to even more deadly effect. Deadliest by far has been fire, which is why all public buildings are required to have sufficient fire safety measures in place. Overhead sprinklers, multiple exits, posted exit plans, fire safety drills. These are all in place to prevent further mass fire casualties. Bladed weapons are the most often used in mass attacks, especially in places with strict gun control. Rarely do mass stabbings end w...

Editors note:  Though Columbine has become one of the most well known school shootings, even giving rise to the term "Pulling a Columbine," it was not intended to be a school shooting at all. What most of America saw as a school shooting was originally meant to be a mass bombing of unimaginable scale. The bombs placed in the cafeteria were enough to bring the library crumbling down on the cafeteria. Both rooms were full of students at the time. The shooters were positioned outside waiting for survivors to come running out of the building as unwitting targets. Both of their cars were wired as well. They set fire to several rooms, that were put out by bystanders or sprinklers. Thankfully, the bombs were mostly defective. This was not a school shooting it was a domestic terror attack.  This topic has been covered at length, and links will follow if you would like to know more about it but we won't cover the standard details here. These are the details used for our r...

Onlookers hide behind low walls. Source: National Teachers Hall of Fame The Olean High School Shooting Date:  December 30 Year:  1974 School:  Olean High School Location: Olean State: New York Wounded: 11 Fatalities: 3 (plus one unborn child) This shooting is not currently included in our research data because information on it is far too limited. If anyone can help fill in the "unknowns" it would be most helpful.  Shots Fired:  33 Time lapsed: 90 Police response time: 20 How ended: Taken by police after 2 1/2 hour siege. Shooter was arrested and held for trial. He committed suicide while in jail. Civilians involved: Unknown Perpetrator:  Anthony Barbaro Age: 17 Family history: Unknown Red flags:  Told a friend he wanted to hold up the Olean Armory and engage in a police standoff. Also told friend, "How funny it must feel to be a sniper holding off people." Mental illness history:  None known Drug or medicati...