The shooting that is believed to have left more than 30 victims injured and dead at an elementary school in Brazil yesterday morning underscores the global nature of school shootings and other weapons assaults. While many Americans view school weapons assaults as a largely American phenomenon, they are more global in nature than most people believe.
Fatal shootings are quite common in Brazil in spite of intensive efforts, including the implementation of massive bans on private ownership of firearms and a variety of other measures that have met with little success. As with homicides in schools in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Japan, the People’s Republic of China, Germany, the Netherlands and many other countries, this terrible act reflects the problems with violence that sometime occur in broader society.
While there are major differences in reporting methodologies, the vast differences in how schools are operated overall, it is very difficult to accurately contrast school homicide rates between countries. But this and many other tragic events should serve to remind us that schools around the globe are at risk for acts of extreme weapons violence.
Sadly, the pain experienced by students, parents, educators, public safety officials and the general public in the United States is also felt from time to time in many other regions of the world.
Our hearts go out to the people of Brazil in this difficult time.
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