School Shootings

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Sad that we may need a category for this.

Another school shooting in NoCal.

Thinking of NoCalMimi and hoping she's okay.

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
A Sheriff in Ohio is doing something. He is offering courses to educate teachers to carry. Local businesses are offering lodging and food free of charge, as well as the course. First starts next week, so this was implemented pre-Florida. There are full courses for the next few months. The narrative that teachers would not want to be armed is just that.

I saw that, I think he had planned for 50 slots and has had over 400 sign up - so far.

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Specializes in School health, pediatrics.
A Sheriff in Ohio is doing something. He is offering courses to educate teachers to carry. Local businesses are offering lodging and food free of charge, as well as the course. First starts next week, so this was implemented pre-Florida. There are full courses for the next few months. The narrative that teachers would not want to be armed is just that.

This is not the solution I want. We have an armed officer. That gun is enough. I cannot figure out why we just keep throwing more and more guns at the problem. I do not want my kid to go to a school where the only reason he feels safe is because all his teachers carry guns.

Also mental health services are not the answer either. Putting the blame of shootings on mentally ill people increases stigma and is a discrimanatory tactic used to shift the blame from gun control to health care.

Yeah, I know that criminals will find a way to get a gun. But I tell you what, making it harder to get one is a good place to start.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
This is not the solution I want. We have an armed officer. That gun is enough. I cannot figure out why we just keep throwing more and more guns at the problem. I do not want my kid to go to a school where the only reason he feels safe is because all his teachers carry guns.

Also mental health services are not the answer either. Putting the blame of shootings on mentally ill people increases stigma and is a discrimanatory tactic used to shift the blame from gun control to health care.

Yeah, I know that criminals will find a way to get a gun. But I tell you what, making it harder to get one is a good place to start.

It's about urgency. Politics is ALWAYS the least effective and slowest response. Countries that have full gun bans still have shootings. We need a defense for the short term.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
This is not the solution I want. We have an armed officer. That gun is enough. I cannot figure out why we just keep throwing more and more guns at the problem. I do not want my kid to go to a school where the only reason he feels safe is because all his teachers carry guns.

Also mental health services are not the answer either. Putting the blame of shootings on mentally ill people increases stigma and is a discrimanatory tactic used to shift the blame from gun control to health care.

Yeah, I know that criminals will find a way to get a gun. But I tell you what, making it harder to get one is a good place to start.

--- Arming staff isn't necessarily my first choice either but I'll take it if no other tangible options are available. I have two kids in HS and one in JH and if that's what it takes to keep them alive at school, I'm in.

--- Not all mentally ill people are to blame for mass shootings...but all mass shooters are mentally ill, so I believe mental healthcare availability could see significant improvement.

--- The first nationwide gun control bill was passed in the 1930s. I have no objection to making it harder for an irresponsible person to get a gun. But...the "but"...that's the disagreement.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
He decided to resign instead of being suspended without pay, which is what Sheriff Israel had done after the incident.

Also, yes I agree the SRO could very well have followed policy...but he didn't!! And yes, he will be publicly vilified as evidenced by police now having to protect him from the public. I can't imagine how high emotions are running there after parents realized the person being paid to protect the kids didn't show up when they needed him. He'll likely move to another county or state.

These are quotes from the Sheriff...

"He didn't go in."

"We go in and address the target and that's what should have been done."

"I'm sick to my stomach. There are no words."

I have worked for an agency where you can do the same act on two different days, for the same reason, and get praised or castigated for it, depending upon what's the politically correct thing to do that day. Formal policy may have been to wait for backup and then go hunting. If that's the case, then the Sheriff is placing the blame on an SRO for not ignoring that policy because that's what should have been done. On the other hand, if that's policy and the SRO goes in and gets injured or killed and doesn't stop the shooter, then he gets vilified for ignoring policy because following policy would have kept him from getting injured or killed.

Now if the FORMAL policy for SROs in that situation is to start hunting regardless of availability of backup, then that SRO failed to follow policy. If the SRO got hurt or killed and didn't stop the shooter, then the Sheriff's Department there would be called to task for not implementing a policy that supports officer safety where the standard is to go hunting in teams of at least two because that dramatically increases officer safety.

That's among the problems faced by law enforcement today.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I have worked for an agency where you can do the same act on two different days, for the same reason, and get praised or castigated for it, depending upon what's the politically correct thing to do that day. Formal policy may have been to wait for backup and then go hunting. If that's the case, then the Sheriff is placing the blame on an SRO for not ignoring that policy because that's what should have been done. On the other hand, if that's policy and the SRO goes in and gets injured or killed and doesn't stop the shooter, then he gets vilified for ignoring policy because following policy would have kept him from getting injured or killed.

Now if the FORMAL policy for SROs in that situation is to start hunting regardless of availability of backup, then that SRO failed to follow policy. If the SRO got hurt or killed and didn't stop the shooter, then the Sheriff's Department there would be called to task for not implementing a policy that supports officer safety where the standard is to go hunting in teams of at least two because that dramatically increases officer safety.

That's among the problems faced by law enforcement today.

I understand what you're saying and I agree. To say, "that's what these guys sign up for" is kind of trite...but it is. And these kids were supposed to be able to count on him...and 17 are dead and untold collateral emotional damage for a multitude of others...including this SRO - how is that poor guy ever going to live with himself?

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Specializes in NCSN.

Not all mentally ill people are to blame for mass shootings...but all mass shooters are mentally ill, so I believe mental healthcare availability could see significant improvement.

I think you stated this well OD. This child went through trauma and never got the help he needed despite all of the red flags and reports that were made regarding his past actions.

And I'll admit I was wrong. From what I've seen in the news the SRO didn't follow their protocol. But then that makes me think, if a trained and armed police officer hesitates to step into the line of fire to protect our students, how can we expect our teachers not to make the same choice?

As I said before, I think this is so much bigger than just school shootings, but I don't have a fast solution. I agree with those who say we should have common sense gun laws (required training classes, background checks, etc) but I feel like with the way things currently are, that won't happen fast enough either.

As an aside: I haven't said it in a while, but I am so thankful that this group exists and that we can talk about these hard topics and still all sit together in our pink on Wednesdays.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

But then that makes me think, if a trained and armed police officer hesitates to step into the line of fire to protect our students, how can we expect our teachers not to make the same choice?

As an aside: I haven't said it in a while, but I am so thankful that this group exists and that we can talk about these hard topics and still all sit together in our pink on Wednesdays.

OD, Far look familiar? ;) I think she's stalking us.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

Wine, sometimes I think we are the same person, I think we'd get along great.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
OD, Far look familiar? ;) I think she's stalking us.

I feel violated:nailbiting:

Are you gonna tell her?

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
I feel violated:nailbiting:

Are you gonna tell her?

#youtoo

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
I feel violated:nailbiting:

Are you gonna tell her?

Nah...

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