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Gun Violence Prevention? pp 57–71Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Columbine School Shooting

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Abstract

Discussed within this chapter are the news media and policy responses to the first of the three case studies, the Columbine school shooting. Outlined is the ‘children and guns’ frame in news media coverage and policy proposals advanced by the Clinton administration, positioning solutions around restricting adolescents’ access to firearms. The discussion thereafter surmises why Clinton’s proposals failed to gain traction; it also details the laws pertaining to ‘children and guns’ that were passed in a handful of states. The chapter then moves onto the proposals raised to close the ‘gun show loophole,’ requiring background checks at gun shows. Results from news media analyses and interviews with activists involved in the campaign explain why this campaign was successfully passed in Colorado via citizen ballot initiative.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A number of these groups are now defunct: Colorado Ceasefire and Million Mom March are the only ones that still exist and Handgun Control, Inc. has rebranded itself to Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Researcher, Glasgow, UK

    Selina E. M. Kerr

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  1. Selina E. M. Kerr
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E. M. Kerr, S. (2018). Columbine School Shooting. In: Gun Violence Prevention?. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75313-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75313-3_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-75312-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-75313-3

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