Guns — few issues evoke as much passion and raw emotion from almost all corners of society. No matter what your opinion of them is, they are a defining part of what it means to be an American. Whether you view guns as a public-safety issue, a constitutionally protected right or both, their place in our society provokes strong reaction and heated debate.

Editor's note: This is part of a series investigating gun violence from many angles.

In the 19 years since the Columbine High School massacre, federal, state and local authorities have responded to the threat of school violence by implementing a number of security approaches. Despite their best efforts, K–12 public school shootings still occur on a regular basis; more than 215,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine.

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