DEAR EDITOR:
The root cause of school violence needs to be addressed. Not including the Sandy Hook tragedy, consider what has happened in the last two years.
Dec. 14, 2012: 23 primary school children and a woman wounded.
Sept. 14, 2011: A young girl and three adults taking their children to nursery school were killed, another child and adult seriously wounded.
Aug. 29, 2011: Eight children, ages 4 or 5, injured at a child-care center.
Aug. 4, 2010: Three kindergarten children and one teacher killed; three other children and four teachers injured.
May 18, 2010: nine vocational college students injured.
May 12, 2010: Seven kindergarten children and two adults killed; 11 other 3 to 6-year-olds injured.
April 30, 2010: Five kindergarten children and one teacher injured.
April 29, 2010: 28 kindergarten children, two teachers and one security guard wounded.
April 28, 2010: 16 primary school students and a teacher wounded.
March 23, 2010: Eight elementary school children killed.
There are two common denominators in these 10 horrific incidents. First, they occurred in China, a country where gun ownership is nearly impossible unless you are a policeman, in the military, or a security guard protecting individuals or businesses of national interest. Second, none of these incidents involved a firearm.
China's solution: Greater awareness of mental health issues, the treatment of individuals with mental health problems and armed guards in schools. Chinese officials are being proactive and reactive focusing on the individual using a weapon to kill and injure innocent children and adults, not the weapon itself. The United States should do the same focusing on the perpetrator and not the weapon of choice
Bill Waugaman
New Wilmington, Pa.