The recent events at Virginia Tech have caused several cases of gratuitous disciplinary action across the nation. Expelled and suspended students at middle schools, high schools and colleges cannot find a just cause behind their punishments and frankly, they are not alone. True, such a catastrophic event cannot go on unheeded and the reestablishment of student security is a necessary action, yet the recent reprimanding of innocent students is overprotective at best and subtler methods of handling potential student killers should be discussed and considered.

Many people saw the same suspensions and punishments occur after the Columbine shootings in 1999. Authorities nationwide were trying to find anyone to blame for the atrocity. Musical influences, teachers and even the victimized students were gratuitously accused, and unfortunately, the same cycle is happening again.

The troubled youth who was behind the school shootings of Virginia Tech was reluctantly cited for his violent traits after the crime was already committed. His writings, race and family life were brought into discussion when finding a cause behind his actions. In such a situation, the shooter was the only person to blame, not his family, not his classmates and not the lack of a therapist. Actions and help may have been readily available for him, yet his own decision to not seek help is the sole reason for his outburst.

Applying a less brutal system to regulate gun control in schools may have risks of incompetent methods. Teachers may disregard legitimate threats to school safety. School authorities, however, must be able to have a better perspective of incidents. They should know the child or children involved–well enough to believe whether a given student would be willing, nay, capable of conducting something like a school shooting.

Through investigations of students' private properties, gun control has upset both students and parents in recent years. The controversies of the gun control operations after the Columbine shooting in Colorado (including a grammar school student being expelled for folding a piece of paper in the shape of a gun) led to several allegedly innocent students being punished solely on suspicion or flat out intolerance, which creates an environment of paranoia amongst students. The powers of a given school may seem like a malevolent force with zero tolerance sweeping through the student body, picking off students for menial violations and infractions.

The worst of administrations continue to emphasize gun control while disregarding the morale of students. The transformation of power to such a cause may seem overproductive at times, but eventually, the storm of gun control can bring minimal benefits if executed poorly.