The Aftermath of Newtown: More of the Same

In the aftermath of the shocking school shooting that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Connecticut, United States, politicians and lobbyists seemed to engage in a lively debate about school security. The most visible policy suggestion was the National Rifle Association’s proposal to place armed guards in every school, which was largely derided. Yet the more progressive politicians who ridiculed the N.R.A. offered proposals that likewise sought to increase the presence of armed security in schools. Public responses to the violence from across the political spectrum sought to continue the securitization of American public schools witnessed over the past two decades, rather than advocating for a responsive response in which students’ needs would be addressed and evidence-based violence prevention programs would be put in place