School shootings

School shootings

School shootings have increasingly been on the rise, making it necessary for us to unravel the perpetrators to understand them better and prevent the occasions from taking place. Most of the perpetrators are male. This doesn’t, however, dismiss the possibility of the shooter being female—no gender discrimination here (Frank J. Robertz, 2007). Based on the research that has been conducted, the shooters are often the quiet kids in the corner who are usually picked on. Those doing the shootout is a way for them to call for attention and demand attention from those who bully them.  Before pushing through with the heinous act, the act has been well thought out.

The deliberate act often emanates from this disturbed kids looking up to previous school shooters and idolizing them. They tend to study the shootouts over and over again as they try to actualize them getting it done.  Watching their idols helps them want to be better than them and kill more school-going children while at it (Frank J. Robertz, 2007). They are proving to be better than them. In some cases, the assailant is timid and is probably afraid of doing it. The time taken thinking over what will happen is because of the inner battles taking place in them. They try to rationalize the act while convincing themselves that it is practically reasonable and ethical (Langman, 2009). Most of these kids act like vigilantes who have set out and made it their work to punish wrongdoers who have gone unpunished. Before doing it, the perpetrator has thought of how to get a hold of the weapon and probably have prior knowledge of using guns, which are the universal weapons used.

In addition to that, the attire to be worn on that particular horrendous day. Most tend to pick clothes that blend in with the surrounding hence not arousing suspicions from their peers. Some tend to choose a specific item that helps them identify with their idol, a previous shooter, for instance, a trench coat to help conceal the weapon probably.

Tell-tale Signs of a Troubled Teen

Before every episode, there are some indicators of imminent lashing out of the troubled teens as they are calling for help. Most of the students are often introverts and prefer to keep to themselves because they have most likely being bullied in the past and had their lives threatened if they reported those who bullied them (Crepeau-Hobson, Filaccio & Gottfried, 2005). Some of them have also being assaulted sexually and have been living in fear of the molesters and tend to want to end the suffering of always having to look behind their backs all their life. Children who come from violent backgrounds; domestic violence tend to be the most affected because their mental state tends to reflect what goes on at home. Often they tend to start by shooting the parent, causing the fights at home before finally attacking their high school. Other signs are that the children may have asked for help, but they were ignored. They, however, do so using indirect means and forums such as painting and rat colors, where they create pieces mirroring what they feel. They may also develop poems that often are ignored and mistaken for creativity. These signs should be ignored because these children are calling for attention before they can carry out the act that may weigh on them for eternity.

Security and Methods for Dealing and Preventing Shootouts.

The likelihood of dying from a school shootout is extremely low. We cannot, however, dismiss their proliferation in recent times. We, therefore, have to be well prepared in all aspects of an attack. School shootings cannot only be prevented by enhancing security in schools. Prevention is always better than cure. The following adjustments can be made before going for fortifying the schools (Kamentz, 2018).

First and foremost, prevention classes should be brought to schools to ensure that the kids can get along with each other just fine. During these sessions, emotional skills are taught to help them control their emotions and for them to know that it is completely fine for them to reach out when in need of help. It may be hard to believe, but the best option of pinpointing grieving and depressed students is using school counselors (Ferguson, Coulson & Barnett, 2011). More counselors should, therefore, be deployed in schools to ensure that their ratio to that of the student body is fair enough for the counselors to be able to concentrate on students without feeling overwhelmed. More money should, therefore, be allocated to the schools for this reason (Kamentz, 2018).

The very technology we profoundly condemn for how children are turning out to be detached should come to the aid of schools in curbing shootings. A system or helpline should be generated to help in school systems where tips can be made regarding peculiar behaviors noticed or threats made by their peers to prevent an occurrence of a shouting.  Routine checks should also be carried out on the social media accounts of all students. The purpose of this is to detect any abnormalities in the posts and even comments.

Most times, this indicates when they are about to be irrational since most may brag about the heinous deeds before doing it. Those who post often tend to show aggression using their posts that reek of malice since they are about to unleash chaos if you are observant enough (Langman, 2009).  Mental checkups should also be carried on students to identify the trouble kids and devise ways of helping them before their mental state takes a turn for the worst (Englander, 2018). Finally, parents who play a huge roll in the upbringing of their children are urged to be vigilant and observant of the behaviors of their children. By doing so, the urges and violent tendencies can be spotted quickly and dealt with early on in their childhood before it pauses as a treat during puberty because that’s when most shooters tend to come out (Vossekuil, 2004).

Increasing security is paramount. The following are suggestions on how to beef up security in schools. First, the government has to work with school administrators to create restricting laws on the acquisition of firearms by just any citizen. Those with registered firearms are urged to keep their guns out of children’s reach because most of the guns used belong to parents and guardians. In addition to this, more school resource officers should be hired in schools to increase security. All visitors need to sign in and out of the school premises using their IDs as a gate pass to prevent unauthorized people from accessing the school premises (Jennings, Khey, Maskaly & Donner, 2011). The number of entrances should also be limited in order to avoid multiple entry points for the perpetrators. Erecting surveillance cameras in the school should also be done to monitor what is going on in the school compound.

Having metal detectors, along with security checks along with the school entrances (Jonson, 2017). These security checks are, however, not advisable because they are discriminative based on racial backgrounds. Blacks are often picked on and often mishandled during these checks when, in the real sense, male whites are the most likely to carry out the shooting. Finally, in terms of security, the school can carry out random security drills on what to do on the occasion of a shooting.

How Drills Work

Drills are the preparations for imminent danger when a shooter makes their way to the school. The exercises help the children be prepared and learn how to act when it happens. The choice of activities should go hand in hand with the age bracket and developmental stage of children. It is least advisable to make elementary kids to go through the process because most tend not to understand what is going on and the importance of the drills. During the exercises, it is advisable for the victims to choose between these three choices; those in a position to take cover and hide should do so to avoid confrontation with the gunman. Secondly, those close to the exits are advised to run out of the school building to the nearest police posts where the police are possibly rounding up victims. The final and last resort should always be confronting the gunman. As much as these options are advised, a person’s best chance at survival is a lockdown where students stay hidden in their classrooms as thy barricade the doors using large items that can hold the weight of anyone who tries to budge the door making forceful entry. Those in hiding are advised to switch on lights and stay quiet.

Pros of Drills

The only advantage that could be thought of is how the drills just help and equip students with skills that may aid in the event of a shootout (Blad, 2018).

Cons of Drills

As much as the drills are carried out in schools, things often turn for the worst in the wake of a shootout in the line of fire and in the face of death. Most people tend to panic, and everything they learned during the drills goes down the drain. Their minds tend to shut down because the actual thing is taking place, and their brains fail to recall or even alone move, they become transfixed (Kathiann Kowalski, 2020). Others have their survival instincts turned up and are willing to throw others under the bus as long as they are not shot at, using them as a shield against the bullets.

During the drills, some children are emotionally scared because the training was uncalled for, and most of the time happens during their school routine unannounced (Hamblin, 2018). Other children may be jarred by the experience because they may be suffering from anxiety or mental illnesses that are yet to be diagnosed and are triggered during the drill (Kathiann Kowalski, 2020). The drills may also torment some children and bring back memories of their loved ones who succumbed to a school shooting. Moreover, the drills are not special-needs children friendly, making them felt left out.

Private-Public Partnership

This private, public partnership is the pooling together of different law enforcement groups in the private and public sector, the federal police officers, and the private security law firms. The groups have been sworn under oath to work together to save lives on occasions when lives are put a risk. School shootings are one of these exceptions when the partnership comes in handy (Dempsey, 2010). The two groups have their strengths and weaknesses. For instance, on the part of the private security firms, their strengths lie in the availability of funds and resources because they are owned by wealthy individuals, and they, therefore, buy the best machines money can buy. Public law enforcers, on the other hand; the police are well known for the training they have undergone.

In addition to this, they have vast experience and have received extensive appraisal and trust from the masses. Through the faith, the citizens can disclose any information to police offices rather than private investigators who tend to overstep during their investigations and can go to any lengths even if it means breaking the law to acquire information (Dempsey, 2010). The two groups, therefore, have to put aside their difference since they are always at loggerheads because of how they handle their crimes and how they respond to them.

Advantages of Private, Public Partnership

By working together, there is a larger group of people working on the cases. The more massive taskforce, most notably in shootouts, can be able to mobilize people during shootouts because as much as efforts of preventing shootings are made, it is essential to think of the aftermath. How they can calm the hysterical victims of the shootout without causing further distress without causing a stampede.

The two groups, therefore, help to secure the –pace after the shooting. Resource sharing is always an added advantage. The two groups can pool what they have together, for instance, appliances that can aid during the shootout (Dempsey, 2010). This assists in solving crimes by getting the job faster and with precision. Information sharing is also another added advantage. While working as separate entities, the two groups are liable for missing vital information. By working together, the information they both have is compared and used to solve the crime.

Recommendations and Possible Solutions

There is, however, no evil and suitable method for dealing with school shooters. How people respond to them is the main driving force. Whatever action works for a particular school should be done (Sherman, 2018). There are, however, some recommendations that should be made to prevent such shootings from taking place. As school administrators, it is your task to be concerned with the safety and security of their students. That is why the cameras have been put in place not to pry on the students but to keep an eye on them. In terms of possessions of weapons of any kind, students who are found with weapons should not be radicalized and labeled ass monsters because some may have made an honest mistake (Kodjo, Auinger & Ryan, 2003). Such students should, therefore, be dealt with carefully and talked to. Rational decisions such as expulsion from the school should be avoided at all costs. The students should be given a listening ear. Expulsion should only be chosen when the student was actually caught in the act of using the weapon to threaten other students.

In addition to this, the resource officers and members of staff should not be armed because the attackers may get ahold of the guns and use them instead. Accidents may also happen when the guns owned by the staff have their safety pins off. Schools should also take bullying of any kind seriously, as much as they are only allegations, the school should try to get to the bottom of the matter to prevent hatred among the students and a driving force for quenching rage that may be building up inside leading to a shootout.  In the case of actual shooting, the school administration should not focus all their energies on condemning the gunman. By doing so, they often tend to forget the unstable students who were affected by the attack. They should be canceled on ways to help them move on with their lives without haven to live in fear consistently.

As much as we are trying to prevent the shootouts from happening, the likelihood of them happening and how to come through from them should not be dismissed. Such an occasion will leave many traumatized, and with probably Post Traumatic Disorder (PTSD) (Vicary & Fraley, 2010). Following a shootout, students may have trouble sleeping, have constant nightmares recapping the fateful day, have a fear of being alone, or claustrophobic because they had to hide in constrained spaces for a while. Some students may feel angry about losing their friends, who will never attend their prom or even graduate. For this reason, all students should seek therapy to help them with the trauma. It is, however, essential to note that the treatment does not make anyone forget what happened or bring back the lost loved ones. The therapy is simply put in place as a medium for talking (Nader,  (2013).

Another way that may help in dealing with the trauma is getting a safe space where one can feel at peace and away from harm’s way. Safe spaces do not necessarily mean a physical space but any activity that may calm your nerves. Some may choose to listen to music, read, or dive into writing (Lampen, 2018). It is also advisable to host awake in the memory of the departed souls. By dog so, all students can share their feelings and remember the times they shared with the deceased. This may act as a salve to the students in pain because the beautiful memorial will help numb and take the place of the painful memories of their last days on earth.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, it is evident that shootings are not uncommon and have become an emerging issue that needs attention in schools. The mental health of students should always come because mental health assist counselors evaluate how students are doing. The mental state of most adolescents is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode because of how depressed they are. The environment around them should be made conducive to learning. The children should also not be condemned but advised accordingly for their misgivings (Ron Avi Astor, 2018). As much as prevention is advocated, schools should be ready in the event of a school shooting because some factors are beyond human control, and they should not blame themselves for a school shootout since they could not manipulate the thoughts of the assailants. Signs should not be ignored. An unstable mind should sick help from a psychiatrist or counselor without the fear of being called crazy for seeing a shrink.  Choose life and safety among school-going children.

References

Dempsey, J. (2010, March 23). Introduction to Private Security. Google Books. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=cSsFAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA359&lpg=PA359&dq=private,+public+partnerships+on+school+shootings&source=bl&ots=oQth7u0AMr&sig=ACfU3U3lZV4EBFUT-emKzxe_2ar1mU5aPw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSjdDwuaDoAhVKx4UKHcQ9DAgQ6AEwAHoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=private%2C%20public%20partnerships%20on%20school%20shootings&f=false

Englander, E. (2018, February 16). 10 ways schools, parents, and communities can prevent school shootings now. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/10-ways-schools-parents-and-communities-can-prevent-school-shootings-now-91960

Frank J. Robertz. (2007, August 1). Deadly Dreams: What Motivates School Shootings? Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/deadly-dreams/

Hamblin, J. (2018, February 28). What Are the Psychological Effects of ‘Active-Shooter Drills’? The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/02/effects-of-active-shooter/554150/

Kamentz, A. (2018, March 7). Here’s How To Prevent The Next School Shooting, Experts Say. NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/03/07/590877717/experts-say-here-s-how-to-prevent-the-next-school-shooting

Kathiann Kowalski. (2020, February 20). Do school-shooter drills hurt students more than they help? Science News for Students. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/do-school-shooter-drills-hurt-students-more-than-they-help

Lampen, C. (2018, February 26). How to Cope With Surviving a School Shooting. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/surviving-school-shooting-trauma

Ron Avi Astor. (2018, February 21). 7 ways to help prevent school shootings. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/21/opinions/guns-in-schools-opinion-astor/index.html

Sherman, A. (2018, February 15). PolitiFact – How do we prevent school shootings? @politifact. https://www.politifact.com/article/2018/feb/15/how-do-we-prevent-school-shootings/

Langman, P. (2009). Rampage school shooters: A typology. Aggression and violent behavior, 14(1), 79-86.

Ferguson, C. J., Coulson, M., & Barnett, J. (2011). Psychological profiles of school shooters: Positive directions and one big wrong turn. Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 11(2), 141-158.

Langman, P. (2009). Why kids kill: Inside the minds of school shooters. Macmillan.

Vossekuil, B. (2004). The final report and findings of the Safe School Initiative: Implications for the prevention of school attacks in the United States. Diane Publishing.

Crepeau-Hobson, M. F., Filaccio, M., & Gottfried, L. (2005). Violence prevention after Columbine: A survey of high school mental health professionals. Children & Schools, 27(3), 157-165.

Metal. Preventing school shootings: The effectiveness of safety measures. Victims & Offenders, 12(6), 956-973.

Blad, E. (2018). Do Schools” Active-Shooter’Drills Prepare or Frighten?. The Education Digest, 83(6), 4-8.

Vicary, A. M., & Fraley, R. C. (2010). Student reactions to the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University: does sharing grief and support over the internet affect recovery?. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36(11), 1555-1563.

Nader, K. (Ed.). (2013). School rampage shootings and other youth disturbances: Early preventative interventions (Vol. 41). Routledge.

Jennings, W. G., Khey, D. N., Maskaly, J., & Donner, C. M. (2011). Evaluating the relationship between law enforcement and school security measures and violent crime in schools. Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 11(2), 109-124.

Kodjo, C. M., Auinger, P., & Ryan, S. A. (2003). Demographic, intrinsic, and extrinsic factors associated with weapon carrying at school. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 157(1), 96-103.