On Tuesday, April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold entered Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, and opened fire on their students and fellow classmates, executing what at the time was the worst school shooting in American history. After an hour the two gunmen had killed 13 people and wounded another 21, before they took their own lives.

I'll never forget that I was in 8th grade and had stayed home from school sick that day and I saw the events happen live on TV. The event deeply affected me and still affects me deeply today. I will never forget this tragic event, and on a day dedicated to marijuana and Hitler, I hope that we first remember this tragedy and the lives that were lost that morning.

My hope is that this thread is a place for people to remember and express condolences; not a place to discuss politics, gun control, or violent music, television, and video games.

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I recommend the book "Columbine"

Rachel Scott, age 17, killed by shots to the head, torso, and leg on a grassy area next to the West Entrance of the school.

Richard Castaldo, age 17, shot in the arm, chest, back and abdomen on the same grassy area.

Daniel Rohrbough, age 15, killed by a shot to the chest on the West Staircase.

Sean Graves, age 15, shot in the back, foot and abdomen on the West Staircase.

Lance Kirklin, age 16, shot with wounds to the leg, neck and jaw on the West Staircase.

Michael Johnson, age 15, escaped from the grassy knoll with wounds to his face, arm and leg.

Mark Taylor, age 16, shot in the chest, arms and leg on the grassy knoll.

Anne-Marie Hochhalter, age 17, shot in the chest, arm, abdomen, back, and left leg near the cafeteria's entrance.

Brian Anderson, age 16, injured near the West Entrance by flying glass.

Patti Nielson, age 35, hit in the shoulder by shrapnel near the West Entrance.

Stephanie Munson, age 16, shot in the ankle inside the North Hallway.

Dave Sanders, age 47, teacher, died of blood loss after being shot in the neck and back inside the South Hallway.

Evan Todd, age 15, sustained minor injuries from the splintering of a desk he was hiding under.

Kyle Velasquez, age 16, killed by gunshot wounds to the head and back.

Patrick Ireland, age 17, shot in the arm, leg, head, and foot.

Daniel Steepleton, age, 17, shot in the thigh.

Makai Hall, age 18, shot in the knee.

Steven Curnow, age 14, killed by a shot to the neck.

Kacey Ruegsegger, age 17, shot in the hand, arm and shoulder.

Cassie Bernall, age 17, killed by a shot to the head.

Isaiah Shoels, age 18, killed by a shot to the chest.

Matthew Kechter, age 16, killed by a shot to the chest.

Lisa Kreutz, age 18, shot in the shoulder, hand and arms and thigh.

Valeen Schnurr, age 18, injured with wounds to the chest, arms and abdomen.

Mark Kintgen, age 17, shot in the head and shoulder.

Lauren Townsend, age 18, killed by multiple gunshot wounds to the head, chest and lower body.

Nicole Nowlen, age 16, shot in the abdomen.

John Tomlin, age 16, killed by multiple shots to the head and neck.

Kelly Fleming, age 16, killed by a shot to the back.

Jeanna Park, age 18, shot in the knee, shoulder and foot.

Daniel Mauser, age 15, killed by a shot to the face.

Jennifer Doyle, age 17, shot in the hand, leg and shoulder.

Austin Eubanks, age 17, shot in the head and knee.

Corey DePooter, age 17, killed by shots to the chest and neck.

Eric Harris, age 18, shooter, committed suicide by a single shot in the mouth.

Dylan Klebold, age 17, shooter, committed suicide by a single shot to the head.

You need to delete. Those two loser scumbags don't deserve their names mentioned.

I can't believe it's been 12 years. I remember it very vividly.

I think every class I had that day we watched the tv. It's just unbelievable thinking about everything that happened in Littleton.

Steel Valley Football;746043 wrote:You need to delete. Those two loser scumbags don't deserve their names mentioned.

No, the deserve to be mentioned because even though they committed this unthinkable crime, their parents and families lost them as well. We need to remember that not only did the Harris's and Klebold's each lose a son, but every day they have to live with the fact that it was their boys who took the lives of 13 other people.

krambman;746012 wrote: .... not a place to discuss politics, gun control, or violent music, television, and video games

Sorry, but with all due respect, this horrific event and a few of these factors are forever linked...with that being said, the families of these victims will forever hold a spot in our consciousness, and I thank you for reminding us of this tragic day.

Who is Hitlet?

I can't imagine how terrifying it would've been to be one of the students at Columbine that day.

ernest_t_bass;746065 wrote:Who is Hitlet?

some pot smokin' Nazi

krambman;746055 wrote:No.

Yes. Delete.

I must be a terrible person or something because despite remembering it vividly I feel no connection or anything to the day or event.

I sympathize with those involved but beyond that I don't feel anything at all.

I remember this day fairly well but what sticks out to me was the full on assult the fundamentalist horde's unleashed upon heavy metal music afterwards.

mrtinkertrain;746231 wrote:I remember this day fairly well but what sticks out to me was the full on assult the fundamentalist horde's unleashed upon heavy metal music afterwards.

Yep, exactly. Let's excuse the parents and blame Marilyn Manson.

Blaming Manson was the easy thing to do and it suited the religious right's agenda perfectly. The sad fact was that Marilyn Manson was about the only one who "got it" about the whole situation. He was asked what he would have said to the kid's in columbine. Manson replied that he wouldn't have said anything he would have just listened. Listen to the kid's is exactly what nobody did in Columbine.

mrtinkertrain;746270 wrote:Blaming Manson was the easy thing to do and it suited the religious right's agenda perfectly. The sad fact was that Marilyn Manson was about the only one who "got it" about the whole situation. He was asked what he would have said to the kid's in columbine. Manson replied that he wouldn't have said anything he would have just listened. Listen to the kid's is exactly what nobody did in Columbine.

The killers weren't actually the loners that everyone picked on, which is how they were portrayed in the media. In reality they were fairly popular, had no problem getting dates and were bullies themselves. They were sociopaths and I believe they would have killed no matter who tried to help them. No one should be blamed but Eric and Dylan themselves.

I Wear Pants;746190 wrote:I must be a terrible person or something because despite remembering it vividly I feel no connection or anything to the day or event.

I sympathize with those involved but beyond that I don't feel anything at all.

I agree. Same with 9/11. I have no personal connection with any of these tragedies. Just another date on a calendar to me.

Another book I'd suggest is called "She Said Yes" I'm not really religious anymore but I got this book back when I was in HS and still have it. Even if you don't believe in God I'd still suggest anyone read it.

Thanks Krambman I had forgotten about this. It's good to remember the lives that were lost on this day.

Iliketurtles;746328 wrote:Another book I'd suggest is called "She Said Yes" I'm not really religious anymore but I got this book back when I was in HS and still have it. Even if you don't believe in God I'd still suggest anyone read it.

Thanks Krambman I had forgotten about this. It's good to remember the lives that were lost on this day.

Read "Columbine" and you will find that it actually was not true.

I saw Marilyn Manson's statement in Bowling for Columbine ("I would listen"). I understand why some applaud his statements but I tend to agree with another poster. These guys were sociopaths. They weren't feeble little bookworms who got shoved into lockers. Outside of locking them up before they went to school, you probably weren't going to stop them or convince them that their actions were wrong

While I have no personal connection to this event, it much like 9/11 shaped our current society.

Before that happened, I never remember going to school scared. I'm not saying I went to school scared everyday after that, but it proved to me that school was not the safe haven it was made out to be. I remember as a Freshman or Sophomore (2000-2001 2001-2002 school years) someone sent out a "Hit list." I was on that list. While I still went to school that day, I walked around worried. I didn't think that anything would happen, but it still freaked me out.

Now, when I go to work, I have to be buzzed in by someone in the principal's office if I'm running a little late because the doors are kept locked during the day.

I'm not remembering the shooters today. I'm remembering the event because it changed the way we live today.

On a side/humorous note. I remember an old girlfriend saying "Let's rent Bowling for Columbine, I love Bowling Movies! Remember The Big Labowski? That was so funny!" I replied, "This isn't about bowling." She decided to rent it because she swore up and down that I was wrong. Ignorance is a deal breaker.

I never once went to school scared of a school shooting.

I also have never been afraid of a terrorist while I was in a high rise or airplane. So maybe I'm just weird but I'm far more afraid of someone running a redlight and t-boning me than either of those things. If I'm going to be afraid of deaths I can't control (which is an irrational thing imo) then I'm at least going to be afraid of the most likely ones.

bigkahuna;746670 wrote:I'm not remembering the shooters today. I'm remembering the event because it changed the way we live today.

First off let me say I am saddened by those innocent children that lost their lives that day. You are right the actions of a couple of sociopaths set in motion a chain of events that would change the high school experience at a national level. Nationally high school kids lost their innocence.

I went to a small rural high school with a graduating class in the 50-60 range. Jr/Sr high were all under one roof. Most of my high school experience was in the late 80's. Other than education our school administrators biggest worry at the time was when to allow us to wear shorts, their length (at the knees), and the length males could grow their hair. We had the occasional ultra rebel that would sneak a smoke in the boys room or pass out a few pouches of Skoal bandits to his buddies at lunch. We had your typical "bully" events to use the current buzz word of today. The doors were always unlocked. After school hours parents coming to pick up their kids after practice could walk right in an get their kids shooting hoops in the gym while waiting for them.

My three children attend the very same school today. My how things have changed. Hair length, when to wear shorts, and their length are the least of the schools worries today. Cameras in every hallway. Locked doors. Anti-bullying indoctrination everywhere. Signs (like the ant-smoking signs just substitute the word bully), assemblies, and anti-bullying role playing skits. My kids complain about this anti-bullying thing as a waste of time. Think about all the money that is diverted from educating our children that is now spent on all of these things.

National events and an idiot kid brings a gun to school to look cool. Now some troubled or smart ass kid has the power while taking a shit to whip out his pen and scrabble a hate message or threat on the stall door and reek havoc on the school. Double lock down. Search all backpacks, lunch bags, and excuse frightened students from school. Its all happened at my kids small rural school. My son got sick and barfed outside the classroom door because all the crap you got to go through to get a hall pass. Basically he was forced to yell out in class "I have to throw up" then bolt for the door. It will not be long before you can not take a shit without school personnel outside the stall door.

I am not saying I disagree with all these security procedures. I do think we go to far because of a small amount of troubled individuals we become unreasonable in balancing freedoms we hold with security. The horrible actions by a couple of students at Columbine High School and the horrible actions of a relatively small group of people (on the worlds scale) on 9/11 (as mentioned above) it seems common sense and reason are always the next casualties.

Good post. Though bullying is a very real problem. Don't know if the current approach to it works that well though.

I Wear Pants;746788 wrote:I never once went to school scared of a school shooting.

I also have never been afraid of a terrorist while I was in a high rise or airplane. So maybe I'm just weird but I'm far more afraid of someone running a redlight and t-boning me than either of those things. If I'm going to be afraid of deaths I can't control (which is an irrational thing imo) then I'm at least going to be afraid of the most likely ones.

I guess I didn't mean that I walked into the building with fear from that day on or I'm afraid every time I step on a plane. What I'm saying is that I/we never even thought that something like Columbine or 9/11 would happen. Now that they have, it does make you stop and think that it's obviously possible to happen again. I think I exaggerated that point in my previous post.

A great example of this happened when we went to NYC 2 weeks ago. My wife was afraid to board the subway and said "Wasn't there a bombing on a subway a few years ago?" I told her that I was pretty sure it happened in Madrid, and that we really couldn't be scared because of one incident; much like what you said with the flying.