Nearly two months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, PBS will begin a week of programming on the Newtown shooting, along with a continued discussion on why the shooting happened and what could have prevented the tragedy.
Beginning February 18-22, the week of programming entitled, After Newtown, will air programs focusing on the shooting, the gun law debate, mental illness and the security measures being taken in our schools. Each night begins with a PBS NewsHour report on topics related to Newtown, such as violence in the media and how cities like Aurora, Colorado move on from similar shooting tragedies. The weeklong installment will include popular PBS programs such as Frontline and Nova.
“As we mourn the lives lost in Newtown, it is important to present the facts, the science, and the history behind the issues to provide information and context as we collectively look at how better to protect and serve our communities,” said PBS’s Chief Programming Executive, Beth Hoppe.
Here’s a look at the week-long lineup:
GUNS IN AMERICA
Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
Repeats Thursday, February 21, 2013, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET
In April of 1775, it took Minuteman approximately 15 seconds to load, aim and fire a musket at the advancing British Redcoats in Lexington, Massachusetts. Now, two and a half centuries later in December 2012, it only took Adam Lanza 60 seconds to fire dozens of rounds with an assault-style weapon on innocent victims. Gun technology evolves every year, with far more advancements than most thought imaginable. An estimated 300 million firearms are in circulation today and more than 30 people die every day from gun-related injuries. However, people are not willing to give up their guns, since society relies on guns to sustain communities, challenge authority and keep peace. Guns in America examines each sides of the battle; those in favor of stricter gun control and those who run out and buy more guns each time tragedy strikes. In this program, the evolution of guns and the link to violence will also be discussed.
FRONTLINE: “Raising Adam Lanza”
Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET
Repeats Thursday, February 21, 2013, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
Frontline investigates Newtown, a town now divided on the nation’s gun culture and laws, since Adam Lanza decided to open fire at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.The disturbed young man left behind a trail of death and destruction, but not much else- no friends, diary or computer, unless detectives have figured out a way into the smashed hard drive. So, who was Adam Lanza and what was the motive that drove him into a killing rampage?
NOVA: “Mind of a Rampage Killer”
Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
Why would a person enter a church, theater or classroom full of students and begin shooting innocent victims? How could a human begin take another person’s life? In this NOVA special, scientific studies will try and help viewers understand the mind of a killer. Is there a way to recognize a dangerous mind in time to prevent another tragedy from happening? Tune into the special NOVA episode for an in-depth explanation on the inner-working of a rampage killer.
THE PATH TO VIOLENCE
Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET
More than 120 school assaults have been foiled in the past 10 years, thanks to security hardware and physical barriers. However, more credit goes to psychologists, who are working with law enforcement officers, devising plans to precent violent attacks. In this special, The Path to Violence, details an extremely effective Secret Service program, entitled the Safe School Initiative, which helps schools detect problem behavior. However, not all mass shooters are in school at the time they decide to go off on a killer rampage. Shooters like Adam Lanza, Jared Loughner and James Holmes were not enrolled in school during their shootings. In cases like this, the parents may be the only line of defense, but will they detect the behavioral problems before it’s too late?
WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL
Friday, February 22, 2013, 8:00-8:30 p.m. ET
Gwen Ifill, Moderator and Managing Editor, will feature a segment discussing how Washington lawmakers are addressing the issue of gun control.
NEED TO KNOW
Friday, February 22, 2013, 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET
There have been plenty of school shootings where only one person is killed, however, this person’s life was not insignificant; family and friends of the victim still carry the burden of abruptly losing a loved one. During Need to Know, school administrators will be examined in their attempt at how they try and prevent a shooting from happening at their schools and in the community.
Personally, I do not watch PBS often, but in the reality of society changing and becoming more perilous with each passing day, I am interested in tuning in to PBS and educating myself on the preventative measures of recognizing behavioral patterns of disturbed individuals, along with learning about the measures being taken for gun laws.
Does one program interest you more than another? Will you tune in to PBS in mid-February, or are you in denial about the safety of our schools and communities? Regardless of your opinions, I hope we can agree that the Sandy Hook School tragedy was a senseless act and that the victims and their families can one day feel at peace.
