Introduction
The US has experienced attacks on various institutions in the past. They have caused a number of deaths and several people being injured in the process. The paper will compare the Columbine and Virginia Tech incidents. In addition, the paper will evaluate the lessons learned from the Columbine incident and the differences between the two. The incidents involved the attack of learning institutions by school students.
Comparisons and Contrasts of the Incidents
Lessons from the Columbine high school incident
There were numerous lessons learned from the Columbine incident. One of the most valuable lessons learnt from the tragedy is the importance of working together as a team. Teamwork would enable people to meet the needs of families, students and communities (Austin, 2003). In other words, the quality of relationships among counselors, community partners, and students is very important for the healing and recovery of injured after an incident (Austin, 2003). Another lesson was the moving of students to safe areas after an attack. Additionally, the councilors understood the importance of implementation of lock down systems (Austin, 2003).
Moreover, protocols for responding to active shooters were established. Other lessons learned from the incident was that teachers should be trained on controlled evacuation, searching and assembling of victims in secure areas. Additionally, most schools have now established reunification centers for parents and students to prevent instances in which parents go to the site and obstruct the work of law enforcers (Austin, 2003).
The members of staff, who did not receive counseling after the attack, later suffered mental health problems. Thus, it was necessary for staff members to access therapy after such incidents (Austin, 2003).
Differences between the Two Incidents
While the Virginia incident resulted in the death of 32 individuals and twenty-five others injured, the Columbine incident led to the death of thirteen persons and 24 others injured (Bowen & Brown n.d.). Additionally, the Columbine incident involved two students who were armed and ready to kill while only one student Seung-Cho procured the Virginia incident. While the Columbine incident took place on 20 April, 1999, the Virginia incident occurred on 16 April 2007 (Bowen & Brown, n.d.).
Moreover, during the Columbine shooting, most of the students did not have cell phones to take footage of the incident. Lack of footage made it difficult for reporters to get the true picture of the accident (Bowen & Brown, n.d.). In contrast, during the Virginia incident, most students had cell phones equipped with technology that made it possible for them to take footage of the happenings. This technology helped the students to give real-life footage to the media reporters (Bowen & Brown, n.d.).
Additionally, while the incident at Virginia Tech occurred in an institution of higher education, that of the Columbine School did not take place in a higher learning institution. Again, the shooters in the Columbine incident used bombs with the intention of killing people, but the bombs failed to detonate, thereby ended up using carbines and shotguns. In contrast, Virginia Tech incident did not involve the use of bombs (Bowen & Brown, n.d.).
Conclusion
In summary, the two incidents occurred in institutions of learning. Besides, those who committed the massacres were students of the attacked schools. Furthermore, the attack taught the significant lessons on the response to active shooters and the best practices concerning emergency planning.
References
Austin, S. J., (2003). Lessons learned from the shootings at Columbine High School, Web.
Bowen, H. P., & Brown, T. L., (n.d.). Emergency preparedness in higher education: the differences between research and practice, Web.