Essay on Kinkel

Kinkel was born in Springfield, Oregon to William Kinkel and Faith Zuranski. He has an older sister, Kristin. His parents were both Spanish teachers, with Faith Kinkel having taught French at Springfield High School, and Bill Kinkel having taught at Lane Community College. The Kinkel family spent a sabbatical year in Spain when Kip was six, where he attended a non-English-speaking school; his family said that he struggled with the curriculum.[1] When Kinkel returned to Oregon, he attended Walterville Elementary School in Springfield. His teachers considered him immature and lacking physical and emotional development. Based on the recommendation of his teachers, Kinkel's parents had him repeat the first grade.[1] In the fourth grade, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and was placed in extensive special education classes.

Kinkel had an interest in firearms and explosives from an early age. His father first denied this, and later enrolled him at gun safety courses, buying him a .22 caliber Long rifle and eventually a 9mm Glock handgun when Kip was 15. According to Kinkel, his psychologist, Jeffrey Hicks, told Bill Kinkel to "let Kip have the guns, for it will be a good outlet." n May 20, 1998, Kinkel was suspended pending an expulsion hearing from Thurston High School for being in possession of a loaded, stolen handgun. A friend, Korey Ewert, had stolen a pistol from Scott Keeney, the father of one of his friends, and arranged to sell the weapon to Kinkel the night before. Kinkel paid $110 for the Beretta .32 pistol loaded with a 9-round magazine, which he then placed in a paper bag and left in his locker. When Scott Keeney discovered he was missing a handgun, he reported it to the police and supplied the names of students he believed might have stolen the firearm. Kinkel's name was not on the list. The school became aware of his possible involvement and questioned him. When he was checked for weapons, he reportedly stated: "Look,