It's hard to believe, but Monday, April 20th is the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School Massacre. Columbine High School is in Columbine in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado, near Denver and Littleton. Two students, Eric Harris (left above) and Dylan Klebold, went on a murderous spree, killing 12 students and a teacher, as well as wounding 23 others, before committing suicide.
In the United States, at least, very little has changed. The NRA and conservatives continue to trumpet for unassailable gun rights, when a little common sense might tell people that no private individual really needs (as opposed to wants) access to an AK-47.
In face, in the 10 years since the events, not just America, but the world have seen many more mass shootings, including the Virgina Tech massacre, and recent killings in Santa Clara, CA, an immigration center in New York, and Albertville school in Germany, to name a very few.
The Columbine massacre took place in two phases. In fact, it was supposed to be much more than a series of shootings. The pair had planned to blow up the school. They had two 20 pound propane bombs set to explode at approximately 11:17 AM planted in the cafeteria. When the bombs failed to explode, they fell back on their weapons.
One person met with some mercy by the pair. Harris encountered Brooks Brown, a classmate with whom he'd recently patched up a relationship Harris then warned him, "Brooks, I like you now. Get out of here. Go home." And Brown did, leaving the school.
The first phase began near the West Entrance to the high school, as the pair began shooting those they came upon. Those killed in the first phase were: Rachel Scott, age 17; Daniel Rohrbough, age 15; and Dave Sanders, the only teacher killed, age 47.
The second began when Klebold and Harris entered the school library, where 52 students, 2 teachers, and 2 librarians were hiding. It was in the library that the majority of the killings occurred. Those killed in the library: Kyle Velasquez, age 16; Steven Curnow, age 14; Cassie Bernall, age 17; Isaiah Shoels, age 18; Matthew Kechter, age 16; Lauren Townsend, age 18; John Tomlin, age 16; Kelly Fleming, age 16; Daniel Mauser, age 15; and Corey DePooter, age 17.
While many have struggled with closure and with their inner demons, one person faces his fears and memories every school day. After all this time, Columbine High School principal Frank DeAngelis is still at the school. He has vowed to retire after the last of the students who were in kindergarten the year of the bloodshed have graduated in 2012. He did, however, give serious thought to retiring after this year's 10 year anniversary.
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