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American Morning

Gallup Poll: Family Is Responsible for School Shootings

Aired April 20, 2001 - 09:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Two years after the fatal shooting at Columbine High School, how are Americans coping with violence in schools?

Gallup Poll Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport has some numbers for us this morning. He stands by, as usual, in Princeton, New Jersey.

Morning -- Frank.

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Good morning, Leon.

In fact, we just finished reviewing all of the questions we've asked over these last two years since the tragic Columbine event, and we can show you what we think are some of the more important findings from the American public.

First of all, on the probability of this type of event happening, unfortunately, about two-thirds of Americans continue to say it's at least somewhat likely -- it could happen in their community. Here are the numbers: Back in May '99, 74 percent said that -- right after Columbine. The number's been down, for when we just re-asked it, two- thirds of Americans, 65 percent, said it is still possible it could happen.

Parents of K-12 children are represented on this graph. This is really a sad finding, in my opinion. Are you worried about your child's safety when he or she goes to the school? At the baseline, 24 percent, back in the '70s, said yes. That number went up to 52 percent right after Columbine. It had come down last fall. That was the good news. But when we asked it again after the California shooting this March, it went back up again, to 45 percent. Almost half of parents out there say they at least sometimes worry about their child's safety.

A key question: What can be done to prevent future Columbines? We've asked that several different ways. We think this is probably the most important way to answer this question: This is an open-ended question. And the important thing, the number one thing Americans tell us is that the responsibility lies with the parents and the family. That's the number one thing people tell us. They mention security, gun control, and the media, but generally speaking, it's the parents that come to the top.

So Leon and Daryn, our bottom line on this is Columbine can happen again. Society and schools by themselves aren't going to be able to fix the problems. It's really going to have to be a focus on the family.

That's where the public stands on this tragic anniversary.

Leon, Daryn, back to you.

HARRIS: Thanks, Frank.

A big difference is that now at least people do know about all of that.

Thanks much, Frank Newport.

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