Oregon Shootings

Regarding your May 22 article about the Oregon school shootings, there is an observation common to all 14 school deaths since October in the United States. These abhorrent crimes were not simply committed by shooters, juniors or seniors, but by boys, their ages ranging from 11 to 18. I am dismayed that, despite an enormous amount of coverage of these incomprehensible acts, this exclusively male phenomenon has not been a subject of any commentary that I have seen.

If we truly want to rid ourselves of random violence in this country, if we are genuinely outraged by these senseless killings, now is the time to finally address how we are raising boys in this country. By enculturating males to deal with problems through force, by linking masculinity to exercising power over others and the avoidance of acknowledging emotions, we are asking for the kinds of “solutions” we have witnessed with these 14 deaths. Only through an approach that emphasizes a nonviolent resolution to the inevitable conflicts and pain that are part of the human experience can we hope to keep our children alive in their schools. We must dedicate ourselves to teaching boys a better way.

JEANNIE BREWER MD

Calabasas

* So, have we had enough? Have we seen enough ambulances at schools--enough blood splattered on school cafeteria walls? How many more baby-faced children will mow down their parents, teachers and classmates? Are we going to continue rationalizing guns and violence in the media, pretending that neither has a negative effect on our children? The standard argument is that so many people view media violence without negative repercussions that it isn’t fair to blame society’s ills on that. But reality says that a fair percentage of children are adversely affected. Why are we willing to risk the few that might be “inspired” to kill four and wound 22?

Certainly a solution to these tragedies is more complex than the two elements of guns and media violence, but common sense should tell us that taking immediate, dramatic steps to change our stance is an important beginning. Maybe the real problem is that society has lost its common sense.

MARIE MARTIN

Sherman Oaks

* I have an idea on how to stop all of this gun violence in our high schools. If we arm each law-abiding student with his or her own concealed handgun, the real criminals in the schools will think twice before they go on a rampage and start shooting their fellow students. Not to mention the reduction we would get in lockers being broken into, copying of homework and cheating on tests. I am going to send this idea to the National Rifle Assn. What do you think?

ERIC PARISH

Vista

* I’m a Californian living in Europe and I thank God I don’t have to send my child to an American school today. How many children have to die before we take away the guns that are killing them? People outside America live very well without guns. A gun has only one purpose, and that is to kill. If you want to stop the killing, ban the guns.

ANDREA LANDAU

Nieuwegein, Netherlands