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"What, if anything, can society do to prevent future Columbine tragedies?"
(asked at the Totem Lake Chevron on 04-28-99; published in the EJ on 05-02-99)

Karen Uliasz, Housewife, Granite Falls

"It's like they say -- you can't blame the parents, the schools, or society because it's just a combination of all these. I really feel that our younger generation has lost a lot of the morals, courtesy and respect -- they're not being taught first at home. More discipline is needed from the parents and the schools and from society. The younger generation gets away with way too much."

Mike Uliasz, Retired truck driver, Granite Falls

"Metal detectors in the schools, like they have in airports and some courthouses now. Tighten the security in the schools. And get the message out to the parents. They said one parent went into the bedroom and there was a shotgun and some ammo. As a parent myself, I would want to do something about it. I think a parent should talk with the child and if you can't do any good, call the authorities."

Gary Price, Field engineer, Kirkland

"I think that society has to get back to the basics, to God-fearing rules and regulations. It's strayed from the basics so far that almost anything goes, anything is acceptable, rules don't matter anymore. And I think we're seeing the fact that they don't because of what's going on. We need to start teaching the basic precepts once again, like they used to."

Don Keil, Truck driver, Lake Stevens

"I guess probably more parental awareness of kids. And parents caring more. Maybe the parents are so wrapped up in a tough society that the kids get forgotten, and lash out. It looked like the one kid had everything -- the parents had a $500,000 home, he had a BMW. It looks like he had gifts but not enough love. You can't buy love. He must've lacked something... And the news brought it all up and look at all the copycats -- it's going to get worse before it gets better... I don't have a good solution, but I think probably it's mostly because of parental neglect."

Eric Booth, Cable installer, Kent

"I think there needs to be a lot stronger emphasis on parental control, everything from safely locking up guns to monitoring their kids' activities. And when local law enforcement's notified of a potential problem, they need to act more aggressively on it."

Sheri Gilbraith, Mother of two, Kirkland

"I saw something in the news about having a security guard in the school which I think is a pretty good idea. And another thing is for kids -- there should be more things for them to do to keep them out of trouble. They have Boys and Girls Clubs for younger kids, but for older ones, they have no place to go."

© 1999 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal newspaper.

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