Benjamin Gilman: “the recent events at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, marks another sad chapter in the many recent tragedies that…”

“the recent events at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, marks another sad chapter in the many recent tragedies that have occurred far too frequently in our nations schools. Too often today, we hear of acts of violence perpetrated in our schools by troubled youths. Equally too often, the reasons behind these acts eludes us, leaving parents, teachers and fellow students to search for the reasons. The Columbine High School tragedy is a stark reminder we need to do all that we can in an endeavor to understand the motivations behind such acts in an effort to prevent future tragedies. We must also encourage parents and teachers to reach out to children whom they feel may be troubled to provide the help that they need. While we may never know the true motivations behind the actions of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, we must do all that we can to ensure the safety of our schools so that teachers and students can attend class without fear. I invite my colleagues to join in offering our condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were killed at Columbine High School and expressing hope for the rapid and complete recovery of those wounded in the shooting and also in recognizing the hard work and dedication exhibited by local, State and Federal law enforcement officials and others who offered their expert support and assistance to all affected by this tragic incident.”