Shooting in Connecticut

[nicks67ca]

The principal and counselor met the gunman near the lobby. They tried to stop him. At teacher hid her class and confronted the gunman telling him they were in the gym. The students in that class lived. The Principal, Gunman, and Teacher were killed.

These people did fight back with what they knew how to.......

I think when it all comes out you will find that the police arrived faster than the gunman expected. He had hundreds of unspent rounds (and spent ones) according to the last press conference. He ended his life with a handgun he had no intentions of getting out alive. I would like to think the secretary (that denied him entry) the principle, and counselor and teacher that slowed him down contributed to giving the police enough time to arrive before he went to many more rooms.

[Vegas69]

Trey, I understand where you are going and I do agree that people need to take ownership of their lives. However, expecting women and children to defend themself against an AR15 is extremely unrealistic. I don't think it's fair to second guess the victims in such an extreme situation.

[ccracin]

My wife is a Kindergarten teacher and I have twin 8 year old daughters. Anytime I see an article or see a news story regarding this horrible tragedy, it makes me want to cry then I quickly become enraged. The loss of precious life makes me want to cry and the way the media and uniformed people react enrage me. I really like the comment of many in this thread. Todd and Greg specifically make a lot of sense.

I know for fact that around here inner city and "high risk" schools have multiple armed guards and metal detectors in use to protect students and faculty from other students. Why can't we have an armed guard at each entrance to every school? My taxes get raised everytime someone wants to implement a new math program or reading program that is the latest greatest thing or just because they got free lunch from a sales rep. I would gladly help fund actually keeping my children and wife safe.

Every American should go out and take a gun safety course and get a concealed carry permit. Then actually carry. Just like criminals will skip over a house with an alarm, they would think twice wondering if their next victim is strapped. This may not be the answer to the mentally ill, but at least you will have a better chance to defend yourself and others. Another point is let people know you carry. People will be more receptive knowing that it is "OK" to do it. I'm not saying go around brandishing your weapon. But when conversations like this come up. Speak up, and educate people. I have had a concealed permit since I was 21.

I also agree with the comments regarding these new extremely violent video games. To me there is a big difference between this and "violent" looney tunes cartoons of my childhood. That was all done in a manner that made it clear it was make believe and didn't sensationalize real world violence. I played cowboys and indians, paintball, GI Joes, and so on and have never even had the notion to shoot another human. Knowing right and wrong is the key here. It is up to the parents to teach this. You have to be involved with your kids and be a parent, NOT a friend. My parents were strict with me and I like to think that has helped me be a good parent. My Dad and I spend a lot of time together. Today as an adult he is my best friend. When I hear these people today say they don't want to drive their kids away by being too strict, it's hogwash. Do whats right and so will your kids. I could go on and on.

Things need to change with our society. Do your part!

[intocarss]

Friday, December 14, 2012Thinking the Unthinkable

Michael holding a butterfly
In the wake of another horrific national tragedy, it’s easy to talk about guns. But it’s time to talk about mental illness.

Three days before 20 year-old Adam Lanza killed his mother, then opened fire on a classroom full of Connecticut kindergartners, my 13-year old son Michael (name changed) missed his bus because he was wearing the wrong color pants.



“I can wear these pants,” he said, his tone increasingly belligerent, the black-hole pupils of his eyes swallowing the blue irises.


“They are navy blue,” I told him. “Your school’s dress code says black or khaki pants only.”


“They told me I could wear these,” he insisted. “You’re a stupid bitch. I can wear whatever pants I want to. This is America. I have rights!”


“You can’t wear whatever pants you want to,” I said, my tone affable, reasonable. “And you definitely cannot call me a stupid bitch. You’re grounded from electronics for the rest of the day. Now get in the car, and I will take you to school.”


I live with a son who is mentally ill. I love my son. But he terrifies me.


A few weeks ago, Michael pulled a knife and threatened to kill me and then himself after I asked him to return his overdue library books. His 7 and 9 year old siblings knew the safety plan—they ran to the car and locked the doors before I even asked them to. I managed to get the knife from Michael, then methodically collected all the sharp objects in the house into a single Tupperware container that now travels with me. Through it all, he continued to scream insults at me and threaten to kill or hurt me.


That conflict ended with three burly police officers and a paramedic wrestling my son onto a gurney for an expensive ambulance ride to the local emergency room. The mental hospital didn’t have any beds that day, and Michael calmed down nicely in the ER, so they sent us home with a prescription for Zyprexa and a follow-up visit with a local pediatric psychiatrist.


We still don’t know what’s wrong with Michael. Autism spectrum, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant or Intermittent Explosive Disorder have all been tossed around at various meetings with probation officers and social workers and counselors and teachers and school administrators. He’s been on a slew of antipsychotic and mood altering pharmaceuticals, a Russian novel of behavioral plans. Nothing seems to work.


At the start of seventh grade, Michael was accepted to an accelerated program for highly gifted math and science students. His IQ is off the charts. When he’s in a good mood, he will gladly bend your ear on subjects ranging from Greek mythology to the differences between Einsteinian and Newtonian physics to Doctor Who. He’s in a good mood most of the time. But when he’s not, watch out. And it’s impossible to predict what will set him off.


Several weeks into his new junior high school, Michael began exhibiting increasingly odd and threatening behaviors at school. We decided to transfer him to the district’s most restrictive behavioral program, a contained school environment where children who can’t function in normal classrooms can access their right to free public babysitting from 7:30-1:50 Monday through Friday until they turn 18.


The morning of the pants incident, Michael continued to argue with me on the drive. He would occasionally apologize and seem remorseful. Right before we turned into his school parking lot, he said, “Look, Mom, I’m really sorry. Can I have video games back today?”


“No way,” I told him. “You cannot act the way you acted this morning and think you can get your electronic privileges back that quickly.”


His face turned cold, and his eyes were full of calculated rage. “Then I’m going to kill myself,” he said. “I’m going to jump out of this car right now and kill myself.”


That was it. After the knife incident, I told him that if he ever said those words again, I would take him straight to the mental hospital, no ifs, ands, or buts. I did not respond, except to pull the car into the opposite lane, turning left instead of right.


“Where are you taking me?” he said, suddenly worried. “Where are we going?”


“You know where we are going,” I replied.


“No! You can’t do that to me! You’re sending me to hell! You’re sending me straight to hell!”


I pulled up in front of the hospital, frantically waiving for one of the clinicians who happened to be standing outside. “Call the police,” I said. “Hurry.”


Michael was in a full-blown fit by then, screaming and hitting. I hugged him close so he couldn’t escape from the car. He bit me several times and repeatedly jabbed his elbows into my rib cage. I’m still stronger than he is, but I won’t be for much longer.


The police came quickly and carried my son screaming and kicking into the bowels of the hospital. I started to shake, and tears filled my eyes as I filled out the paperwork—“Were there any difficulties with....at what age did your child....were there any problems with...has your child ever experienced...does your child have....”


At least we have health insurance now. I recently accepted a position with a local college, giving up my freelance career because when you have a kid like this, you need benefits. You’ll do anything for benefits. No individual insurance plan will cover this kind of thing.


For days, my son insisted that I was lying—that I made the whole thing up so that I could get rid of him. The first day, when I called to check up on him, he said, “I hate you. And I’m going to get my revenge as soon as I get out of here.”


By day three, he was my calm, sweet boy again, all apologies and promises to get better. I’ve heard those promises for years. I don’t believe them anymore.


On the intake form, under the question, “What are your expectations for treatment?” I wrote, “I need help.”


And I do. This problem is too big for me to handle on my own. Sometimes there are no good options. So you just pray for grace and trust that in hindsight, it will all make sense.


I am sharing this story because I am Adam Lanza’s mother. I am Dylan Klebold’s and Eric Harris’s mother. I am James Holmes’s mother. I am Jared Loughner’s mother. I am Seung-Hui Cho’s mother. And these boys—and their mothers—need help. In the wake of another horrific national tragedy, it’s easy to talk about guns. But it’s time to talk about mental illness.


According to Mother Jones, since 1982, 61 mass murders involving firearms have occurred throughout the country. (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/...shootings-map). Of these, 43 of the killers were white males, and only one was a woman. Mother Jones focused on whether the killers obtained their guns legally (most did). But this highly visible sign of mental illness should lead us to consider how many people in the U.S. live in fear, like I do.


When I asked my son’s social worker about my options, he said that the only thing I could do was to get Michael charged with a crime. “If he’s back in the system, they’ll create a paper trail,” he said. “That’s the only way you’re ever going to get anything done. No one will pay attention to you unless you’ve got charges.”


I don’t believe my son belongs in jail. The chaotic environment exacerbates Michael’s sensitivity to sensory stimuli and doesn’t deal with the underlying pathology. But it seems like the United States is using prison as the solution of choice for mentally ill people. According to Human Rights Watch, the number of mentally ill inmates in U.S. prisons quadrupled from 2000 to 2006, and it continues to rise—in fact, the rate of inmate mental illness is five times greater (56 percent) than in the non-incarcerated population. (http://www.hrw.org/news/2006/09/05/u...ons-quadrupled)


With state-run treatment centers and hospitals shuttered, prison is now the last resort for the mentally ill—Rikers Island, the LA County Jail, and Cook County Jail in Illinois housed the nation’s largest treatment centers in 2011 (http://www.npr.org/2011/09/04/140167...-ill-prisoners)


No one wants to send a 13-year old genius who loves Harry Potter and his snuggle animal collection to jail. But our society, with its stigma on mental illness and its broken healthcare system, does not provide us with other options. Then another tortured soul shoots up a fast food restaurant. A mall. A kindergarten classroom. And we wring our hands and say, “Something must be done.”


I agree that something must be done. It’s time for a meaningful, nation-wide conversation about mental health. That’s the only way our nation can ever truly heal.


God help me. God help Michael. God help us all.
Anarchist Soccer Mom at 10:07 PM

[Fluid Power]

It boils down to training, train the teachers and office staff for response in this type of situation.

"Police officers must train and drill with teachers, not only so responding officers are intimately familiar with the facilities, but so that teachers know what they can do in the event of an attack."


"If the school administrators at Columbine had spent a fraction of the money they’d spent preparing for fire — if the teachers there had spent a fraction of the time they spent preparing for fire — doing lockdown drills and talking with local law enforcers about the violent dangers they face, the outcome that day may have been different."

This is probably a good starting point at any school.

Darren

[WSSix]

I was referring to all of the shootings that have occurred not just this one. I'm glad to hear people fought back in this instance. I've been avoiding it simply because I'm tired of reading about crap like this so I don't know much beyond what's in headlines. However, if you read about the Virginia shootings and Columbine you'll find the same thing, most people did nothing to fight back. Those were college students. Columbine was teenagers. I certainly wouldn't expect the children in this instance to put up a fight. They were much too young. Too many instances in which people do nothing to defend themselves, I believe, points to a break down in a belief system. I believe that system has created a society that's subdued in the face of life threatening danger because it's been taught to believe someone else will save you or, worse, that defending yourself is wrong. That's what I was saying. Maybe I wrote it more concisely this time.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Who is to say they didn't fight back or try Trey? Most of the witnesses are most likely dead. It would take co ordination and good training to take a weapon from an unstable person.
The first thing they tell you in an armed situation is to stay calm and quiet or try to reason if confronted. Hero's get killed or get others in real life.
These are common citizens, teachers, librarians not hardened combat tested warriors. Most will panic at the sight of a gun.

Instead of armed guards and solidiers posted infront of schools they should have secret security like we do on planes. The possibility of an armed US marshal on your plane will usually deter violent action. Locking down the school at the first sign of a bad situation may have saved more lives.

Originally Posted by WSSix

The biggest thing that bothers me about all these school and mass shootings is the reaction of the victims. No one fights back. I'm not expecting anyone to be a hero or know the proper way to take out someone with an assault rifle, but cowering in the corner like a sheep is not acceptable. Unfortunately, I feel people in this country have been indoctrinated to believe that government, be it a police officer or a "bold" Congressman enacting some legislation, will protect them from all that is evil. That the acceptable response when faced with danger is to do nothing but wait for the "professional" or the protector to save the day and your life. I believe punishing the victim of bullying that finally stands up to their bully to the same extent as the bully is mindless and wrong. Defending yourself should not be left to the "professionals" or the police. Teaching people that is wrong. Punishing a person for defending themselves is even worse. Thinking that evil doesn't exist or that when confronted with someone determined to harm or kill you that talking it out, as if there's simply some misunderstanding, is a proper response is foolish and leads to more deaths. Your life is your own and no one else's. It's the one thing you cannot lose. Why would you not fight for it? You certainly should never feel bad about defending it. You should soundly reject any idea or belief that says you should leave it completely in the hands of another person or group of people that swear benevolence and a rapid response time.

[GregWeld]

Trey ---

I think that's why many here are calling for more "hardening" of these soft targets. Schools and malls and theaters (to name the most recent soft spots) are easy targets for attackers... simply because they're assured that nobody is going to fight back.

I'm not sure if staffing every school door with an armed guard would end all school attacks - but it would probably help. My sense is though - that the attack would simply occur somewhere else. I just find it hard to believe in my heart of hearts that we can protect everyone everywhere with more laws and more guns. Should we have an armed guard on every bus? At every mall entrance - at every movie entrance...

I spent 4 hours at a class on Saturday - watching video of various scenarios of armed robbery etc -- and I can tell you that even if there was an armed guard on station - most of the time he would not have been able to have a clean shot without being a perfect marksman. There's so much movement - the attacker already has a gun - he's not a sitting duck - and there's so many other people "around". It's easy to "think" you'd just draw and fire - but that's just not reality. One round misses and goes through the wall into a classroom and then what?

You know people still choose to rob armored cars? Go figure...

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I did too, I was beat down often by an alcoholic father. Tough love.

I like to believe I and you are the lucky ones that made it out unscathed but what about the 10% that don't. Different people react to negative inputs. All it takes is a moment of weakness and what one does with that feeling.

Making the school system turn into a prison will be a hard sell. You know how bean counters look at life. The look at percentages not what ifs.

Originally Posted by ccracin

My wife is a Kindergarten teacher and I have twin 8 year old daughters. Anytime I see an article or see a news story regarding this horrible tragedy, it makes me want to cry then I quickly become enraged. The loss of precious life makes me want to cry and the way the media and uniformed people react enrage me. I really like the comment of many in this thread. Todd and Greg specifically make a lot of sense.

I know for fact that around here inner city and "high risk" schools have multiple armed guards and metal detectors in use to protect students and faculty from other students. Why can't we have an armed guard at each entrance to every school? My taxes get raised everytime someone wants to implement a new math program or reading program that is the latest greatest thing or just because they got free lunch from a sales rep. I would gladly help fund actually keeping my children and wife safe.

Every American should go out and take a gun safety course and get a concealed carry permit. Then actually carry. Just like criminals will skip over a house with an alarm, they would think twice wondering if their next victim is strapped. This may not be the answer to the mentally ill, but at least you will have a better chance to defend yourself and others. Another point is let people know you carry. People will be more receptive knowing that it is "OK" to do it. I'm not saying go around brandishing your weapon. But when conversations like this come up. Speak up, and educate people. I have had a concealed permit since I was 21.

I also agree with the comments regarding these new extremely violent video games. To me there is a big difference between this and "violent" looney tunes cartoons of my childhood. That was all done in a manner that made it clear it was make believe and didn't sensationalize real world violence. I played cowboys and indians, paintball, GI Joes, and so on and have never even had the notion to shoot another human. Knowing right and wrong is the key here. It is up to the parents to teach this. You have to be involved with your kids and be a parent, NOT a friend. My parents were strict with me and I like to think that has helped me be a good parent. My Dad and I spend a lot of time together. Today as an adult he is my best friend. When I hear these people today say they don't want to drive their kids away by being too strict, it's hogwash. Do whats right and so will your kids. I could go on and on.

Things need to change with our society. Do your part!

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

The first thing they tell you in an armed situation is to stay calm and quiet or try to reason if confronted. Hero's get killed or get others in real life.

In the class I took on Saturday -- we discussed the "Nike defense" -- as in -- even if you're armed -- run -- The "preclusion rule" says to stay out of the fight if at all possible.

Of course - we weren't discussing a shooting at a school and nobody in their right mind wouldn't try to prevent that "somehow".