In light of a sharp dispute between political opponents

The nightmare of repeated shootings in schools complicates the scene in America

• Students no longer feel safe in their schools.

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The United States is the only developed country where school shootings, such as the one at an elementary school in Texas on Tuesday, are seriously frequent.

There is no indication that Democrats will be able to pass tougher legislation to control the sale and carrying of guns.

Some Republicans accuse them of using the recent school shooting to advance their political goals cynically.

There have been dozens of shootings and other attacks in American schools and colleges over the years, but until the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado in 1999, the death toll tended to be in the single digits.

Since then, the number of shootings has increased, involving schools and killing 10 or more people;

The last two of them were in Texas.

Politicians recognize that this is a problem almost unique to America, where gun violence has overtaken car accidents as the leading cause of death for children and teens.

But it is a problem that politicians seem unable to solve.

And deeply held opinions about gun control have not changed in response to events such as the Ovaldi tragedy.

The following are the most important incidents of gun violence in American schools, as well as the deadliest in history:

- Ovaldi, Texas - May 24, 2022

An 18-year-old killed 14 students and a teacher at Robb Elementary School in Ovaldi, 130 kilometers west of San Antonio, according to the Texas governor;

The suspect also died.

- Oxford, Michigan - November 30, 2021

A 15-year-old killed four students in cold blood and wounded six others;

As well as a teacher in a high school yard in Oxford, a small town north of Detroit.

The shooter was charged with "terrorist act" and "murder".

Unusually, his parents were tried in this case.

- Santa Clarita, California - November 14, 2019

A 16-year-old boy celebrates his birthday by shooting students at his high school, killing two of his classmates and injuring three others before attempting suicide.

The ages of the victims ranged between 14 and 15 years.

- Santa Fe, Texas - May 18, 2018

A 17-year-old student kills 20 people at his high school, including adults, children, and teens.

The shooter has since been imprisoned.

- PARKLAND, FL - February 14, 2018

On Valentine's Day, 19-year-old Nicholas Cruz unloaded his semi-automatic rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, from which he was expelled for disciplinary reasons.

This resulted in 17 deaths, most of them teenagers.

The shooter was arrested immediately.

- Benton, Kentucky - January 23, 2018

A 15-year-old student shot and killed two students of the same age at Marshall County High School.

Another 18 were wounded by gunfire or in the chaos caused by the shooting.

- Roseburg, Oregon - October 1, 2015

A 26-year-old student killed nine people at Umpqua University.

He was shot in the head.

- Oakland, CA - April 2, 2012

A man systematically kills seven people at Oikos University in California.

The shooter, a former student of Korean origin, was arrested and died after seven years in prison.

- Newtown, Connecticut - December 14, 2012

After shooting his mother, a mentally ill 20-year-old man killed 26 people, including 20 children aged six to seven, at Sandy Hook Elementary School;

to commit suicide after that.

The United States is still haunted by this massacre because of the killing of many children.

- Virginia Tech, Virginia - April 16, 2007

A mentally unbalanced South Korean student kills 32 people, with his semi-automatic pistol, before committing suicide at this famous educational institution.

- Columbine, Colorado - April 20, 1999

Two heavily armed Columbine High School students aged 17 and 18 killed 12 classmates and a teacher within a few minutes, before committing suicide in the library.

The death toll would have been higher if they had managed to detonate the homemade bombs they had.

4.6

• Millions of American children live in homes with weapons and at least one handgun loaded.

These stored weapons have contributed in one way or another to school shootings, suicide, and the deaths of family members, including infants and young children.

68%

• Of the weapons used in school shootings, they were taken from the home or from friends and relatives.

Dozens of shootings and other attacks at American schools and colleges have occurred over the years, but until the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado in 1999, the death toll tended to be in the single digits.

Since then, the number of shootings has increased, involving schools and killing 10 or more people;

The last two of them were in Texas.

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