In a message dated 4/22/99 5:56:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, cinnimon@vvm.com writes: << This is wrong of me, but when the school shootings first started happening more and more often, I didn't pay much attention to it - honestly. I was in 9th grade when I heard about them for the first time (not the first time ever, but the first time concerning repeated school shootings) and I didn't see how that exactly pertained to me. Now that I am more knowlegdeable when it comes to the news and current events, I can understand the vast importance that things such as the Columbine massacre have. For the past two days, this subject has been on practically every one of my friends' minds. We talk about it in class, over lunch, after school. It is all too much of a reality for we 16-17 year olds. I can guarantee you who are parents that as scared as you are for your children's lives, they are as equally, if not more, for their own. Sarah >> Sarah, I felt the same way. I knew school shootings were horrible, and still are, but it never really hit me until this whole situation in columbine. When I woke up and looked at the paper I was taken back. How can some kid be so messed up? So insensitive to what they are doing? Don't they understand, they are killing people. There were dead bodies in front of them and they laughed. I can't even begin to comprehend. Then today when I looked at the paper again I read a small article entitled something like, Eric Harris was a 'typical kid' in Plattsburgh. Plattsburgh for those of you that don't know is a tiny town in upstate NY. I lived there for 14 years. This guy was in my class in middle school. I don't even remember him, but just that fact that he was once in contact with me everyday for years is shocking. How could this happen? So, lets just say I'm listening this time paying attention, and letting it make an impact on me. I agree with Will, guns are not a necessity. Give them up. Morgan