On this day in 1999, two students at Columbine High School in Colorado, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, carried out a mass shooting. They killed 12 students and one teacher, and injured 21 others before taking their own lives.
Get This Happened straight to your inbox ✉️ each day! Sign up here.
What was the motive behind the Columbine High School shooting?
There is no clear motive for the massacre, but investigators believe that Harris and Klebold were motivated by a desire to commit mass murder and to gain notoriety. They had reportedly been planning the attack for months and had expressed a hatred for jocks and popular students, as well as a fascination with violence and weapons.
How did the Columbine High School massacre change school security?
The Columbine High School massacre was a turning point for school security. It led to an increase in security measures such as metal detectors, security cameras, and the presence of armed police officers on school grounds. It also prompted schools to develop emergency response plans and to conduct drills to prepare for potential violent incidents.
How did the Columbine High School massacre impact the debate over gun control in the U.S.?
The Columbine High School massacre reignited the debate over gun control in the United States. Supporters of gun control argued that the shooting was evidence of the need for stricter gun laws, while opponents argued that the shooting was not caused by guns, but by the perpetrators' mental health issues.
