School Shootings

Published

Sad that we may need a category for this.

Another school shooting in NoCal.

Thinking of NoCalMimi and hoping she's okay.

Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.
Those days must be over. They must be.

Sadly, no. Had another one this week we had to fight with the parents to get them to let us admit. "Just exaggerating." People always think it can't happen to them until it does.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
I wonder, too, how "everyone knew and said nothing," but then I think of the couple of kids I've seen in my adolescent psych unit that have clearly stated they want to shoot their school up, and the number of people in their lives prior that claimed they're just being dramatic.

I saw a report where he actually posted in September that he wanted to be "a professional school shooter" and was reported to the FBI, this information was never given to the local authorities. Then was still allowed to buy a gun. THAT is where our problem lies.

ETA: I know that isn't our only problem, but it seems like a pretty big one to me.

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I saw a report where he actually posted in September that he wanted to be "a professional school shooter" and was reported to the FBI, this information was never given to the local authorities. Then was still allowed to buy a gun. THAT is where our problem lies.

ETA: I know that isn't our only problem, but it seems like a pretty big one to me.

This.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

Look, my uncle and cousin were gunned down and murdered in 1999. For a long time I was very anti-gun. "Who needs a hand-gun unless they are going to kill someone?" Was always my stance. As our country grows more and more scary I've actually thought about getting my conceal and carry. The problem is guns AND people. Both. The people using the guns are crazy, and we aren't doing anything to make it harder for them to kill people. Like I heard a reporter say "We check social media posts on a person before hiring them, why aren't we doing that before selling them a gun?" I completely agree. Mental health issues are so taboo, but so very common. If we stopped treating it like it was something that didn't need to be talked about, maybe more people could get help and then it wouldn't come to mass murders.

I also agree that "Criminals are criminals, if they can't buy the gun, they'll get it from somewhere!" True, but we should make it as hard as possible for those who are mentally unstable to get their hands on one.

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Look, my uncle and cousin were gunned down and murdered in 1999. For a long time I was very anti-gun. "Who needs a hand-gun unless they are going to kill someone?" Was always my stance. As our country grows more and more scary I've actually thought about getting my conceal and carry. The problem is guns AND people. Both. The people using the guns are crazy, and we aren't doing anything to make it harder for them to kill people. Like I heard a reporter say "We check social media posts on a person before hiring them, why aren't we doing that before selling them a gun?" I completely agree. Mental health issues are so taboo, but so very common. If we stopped treating it like it was something that didn't need to be talked about, maybe more people could get help and then it wouldn't come to mass murders.

I also agree that "Criminals are criminals, if they can't buy the gun, they'll get it from somewhere!" True, but we should make it as hard as possible for those who are mentally unstable to get their hands on one.

I agree with all of this, and have felt that way many times.

I simply cannot wrap my head around that more guns, especially guns like AR-15s and "automatic weapons" (because I've been told a BILLION times in the last day that these guns are not assault rifles. Yes, they are. They were used for assault and murder.) are the answer.

We need to vote these guys who are lining the pocket with the NRA's money out of office and have real dialogue. We need to vote these guys who want CUTS to healthcare and mental health budgets out of there.

I don't think nothing can be done, and I'm not lying down on this. Ever.

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Look, my uncle and cousin were gunned down and murdered in 1999. For a long time I was very anti-gun. "Who needs a hand-gun unless they are going to kill someone?" Was always my stance. As our country grows more and more scary I've actually thought about getting my conceal and carry. The problem is guns AND people. Both. The people using the guns are crazy, and we aren't doing anything to make it harder for them to kill people. Like I heard a reporter say "We check social media posts on a person before hiring them, why aren't we doing that before selling them a gun?" I completely agree. Mental health issues are so taboo, but so very common. If we stopped treating it like it was something that didn't need to be talked about, maybe more people could get help and then it wouldn't come to mass murders.

I also agree that "Criminals are criminals, if they can't buy the gun, they'll get it from somewhere!" True, but we should make it as hard as possible for those who are mentally unstable to get their hands on one.

And, S, I'm so sorry about the murder of your family members.

What would THEY have wanted?

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
And, S, I'm so sorry about the murder of your family members.

What would THEY have wanted?

I honestly think they would want stricter gun laws, but also better background checks. And continuous monitoring of gun owners. I was in 6th grade when this happened, and I was very close to my uncle. This helped shape who I am today, whether good or bad, who knows. But I was forced to face gun issues early on and that sucks.

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I honestly think they would want stricter gun laws, but also better background checks. And continuous monitoring of gun owners. I was in 6th grade when this happened, and I was very close to my uncle. This helped shape who I am today, whether good or bad, who knows. But I was forced to face gun issues early on and that sucks.

Love to you. *hugs*

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I'm all for stricter gun laws but there are already laws in place associated with those diagnosed with certain mental illnesses not being able to "purchase" a firearm. So I keep going back to what I believe is the root problem...lack of mental illness healthcare; there are probably more options to treat erectile dysfunction than there are for someone to obtain real psychological assessments and interventions.

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I wonder, too, how "everyone knew and said nothing," but then I think of the couple of kids I've seen in my adolescent psych unit that have clearly stated they want to shoot their school up, and the number of people in their lives prior that claimed they're just being dramatic.

Yep. We had several kids in that boat when I worked in psych.

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Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.
I'm all for stricter gun laws but there are already laws in place associated with those diagnosed with certain mental illnesses not being able to "purchase" a firearm. So I keep going back to what I believe is the root problem...lack of mental illness healthcare; there are probably more options to treat erectile dysfunction than there are for someone to obtain real psychological assessments and interventions.

As a psych nurse, I get really jaded about how no one wants to pay attention to or fund mental health care until things like this happen.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
As a psych nurse, I get really jaded about how no one wants to pay attention to or fund mental health care until things like this happen.

First, thank God for psych nurses...2nd, jaded is inevitable under the current circumstances of expecting something from nothing as to real mental health options, 3rd, mental health will get attention until the next political distraction, 4th the get rid of guns wailing will continue to impede and prevent the schools from protecting our children from evil with something other than "this is a gun free to zone" instead of advocating for an armed, aware, and deadly force on every campus. What would you prefer for your children if in an encounter with a shooter? Warning signs and lockdown procedures or 10 license to carry staff members with guns?

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