By Angela Roughton

Community Advocate, Inner Banks Hotline

There have been 288 school shootings in the United States since 2009. That’s an average of nearly three school shootings every month.

It seems as though school shootings are an almost uniquely American problem. The United States has 57

times more shooting incidents than all other industrial nations, combined. Why?

Many point to the country’s extremely relaxed gun regulations and others argue mental health issues. Recently, however, a new answer has stormed to the center of conversation: Teen Dating Violence.

Recently a 17-year-old teenage boy entered his Texas high school and killed 10 people. Among his victims was a female student that had reportedly rejected the gunman’s sexual advances. Frustrated and angry with being told “no,” the boy grabbed a gun and committed the atrocity.

Before Texas, a 19-year-old teenage boy in Florida went on a killing spree inside his high school. Investigations into the shooter’s past revealed that he had issues of domestic violence and reportedly threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and her new love interest. Frustrated and angry with sexual rejection, this boy, too, grabbed a gun and took 17 lives.

Before Florida, a 17-year-old teenage boy in Maryland entered his high school with a gun and shot two people before he was stopped by security. One of his victims: his ex-girlfriend. Jilted from his recent sexual rejection, the teenager armed himself with his father’s gun and stole his ex-girlfriend’s future with a single bullet.

Unfortunately, the list of school shooting incidents that were perhaps partially fueled by a teenage boy’s inability to cope with the trials and tribulations of teenage romance goes on and on.

Get help if you or someone you know is in a teen dating violence relationship. Talk to your counselor, parent, friend, and get the help you need by calling Inner Banks Hotline.

Our Thrift Store hours are Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations are accepted in the back in the open

carport.

Hotline staff members are Janie Spencer, Executive Director; Emily Edwards, Client Advocate; Angela Roughton, Community Advocate; Gloria Owens, Thrift Store Manager; Lisa Woodley, Faith/Hispanic Outreach Advocate.

Our offices and Thrift Store are at 507 US Hwy 64 E (beside Family Dollar) in Columbia; telephone 252-796-5526.