School shooting in Parkland, FL

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Years ago, there was a series of bomb threats at my son's high school over several weeks, each time taking 2 hours to sweep the school with students evacuated. They eventually discovered the student making the threats. My daughter told me after his arrest, the kid posted on FB that he had done it, made a huge mistake and had ruined his life (he faced criminal charges and was expelled from school). Someone responded that they didn’t get to say goodbye to him, and he responded that he was going to sneak into the school the following Monday to say goodbye to everyone. Now, is it me or did that sound ominous? Because I called the police and spoke with the officer handling the case, and he pretty much brushed me off. He knew the kid from prior encounters, he was troubled but a nice kid, and he couldn’t get into the school anyway because there’s a security system that requires being buzzed in.” Really??? IDK, I thought I’d hear “thanks for calling. We'll keep our eyes open, warn the school...” Something!

Geez.

I'm glad you called in but that's too bad the response you got from the local PD

 

[Mermaid02]

I hate seeing the news interviewing these kids, my gosh they have just been through the most horrible experience they will probably ever see... it seems so exploitative.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I hate seeing the news interviewing these kids, my gosh they have just been through the most horrible experience they will probably ever see... it seems so exploitative.

I was just thinking that when I saw a few news sources releasing cell phone footage. I didn't even click it. It just seems so insensitive AND sensational.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Many families' children died. Do you care?

Do you? Are you sending them lots of warm fuzzy thoughts and prayers to get them through today, tonight, and the rest of their lives?

 

[JimMIA]

I hate seeing the news interviewing these kids, my gosh they have just been through the most horrible experience they will probably ever see... it seems so exploitative.

That was nothing.

You should have been watching as the WSVN (Channel 7) helicopter showed the exact positioning of the SWAT teams, and the exact escape routes that were being used to evacuate students and staff. They put hundreds of kids in harms way...but it helped their ratings, and that's all that matters.

 

[JimMIA]

Do you? Are you sending them lots of warm fuzzy thoughts and prayers to get them through today, tonight, and the rest of their lives?

Yes, I do. I've given them the news.

The convenient babble is "There are no words." But there are words, and they must be said. "Your child is dead." I have said those words...have you?

I know the difference between sincerity and the desire to make some stupid political point.

 

[Mermaid02]

That was nothing.

You should have been watching as the WSVN (Channel 7) helicopter showed the exact positioning of the SWAT teams, and the exact escape routes that were being used to evacuate students and staff. They put hundreds of kids in harms way...but it helped their ratings, and that's all that matters.

I know... I keep seeing footage of a young boy running with his backpack... stop it... just stop it... that boy running for his life doesn't need to be replayed over and over again. I turned it off. Brings the song "Dirty Laundry" to mind.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I know... I keep seeing footage of a young boy running with his backpack... stop it... just stop it... that boy running for his life doesn't need to be replayed over and over again. I turned it off. Brings the song "Dirty Laundry" to mind.

Unfortunately that's a con to instantaneous news and access to it.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

But, I'm sure those 17 families are feeling very comforted right now by all the thoughts and prayers going their way.

It's not like there aren't plenty of people who are pro-prayer & anti-gun. I'm one of them & I know plenty more people who are. Regardless of what many seem to think, this isn't necessarily a political topic. People who support political parties are not one size fits all. We don't all see things the exact same way. Sitting here @ 7:45 pm all those who believe in prayer & good thoughts can do is offer those to the victims & families. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Just seeing that the count rose.

I agree. This school is in our county, so our local channels are covering it non-stop. I keep getting sadder with each report.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Yes, I do. I've given them the news.

The convenient babble is "There are no words." But there are words, and they must be said. "Your child is dead." I have said those words...have you?

I know the difference between sincerity and the desire to make some stupid political point.

Jim, no, I have not had to say those words. I don't have any idea what that must be like.

Wanting a solution does not mean I don't care. It means I do care. Suggesting that all sides of the issue should be studied by the federal government is not a stupid political point. Do we fix cancer without studying cancer? Do we improve airplane safety without studying the failures?

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

This is just not the time. It isn't.

I see ... you're part of the "#TooSoon" movement. It's always too soon for some.

 

[mnrose]

So no one else can do a study? Start a GoFundMe to pay someone to do a study.

Why wouldn't we want our government to study a major health issue in the US? Isn't that part of the charter of the CDC? I don't understand WHY you would specifically prohibit them from studying a public health issue? Can you imagine them passing a law that said "CDC not to study Ebola." Of course not. It's a political decision to cover up a very inconvenient truth.

 

[GreatLakes]

So this guy pulled a fire alarm and created a kill zone. Who wants to predict a future attack where a fire is set and people die because they think it is another situation like this and shelter in place instead of evacuate?

 

[mnrose]

I see ... you're part of the "#TooSoon" movement. It's always too soon for some.

When is the right time? Since it's not after an event, it's ALWAYS too soon because these events come right on the heels of each other. I say we pick a date today and agree that we discuss it on THAT day. "Too soon" is code for never.

 

[LYSE]

Why wouldn't we want our government to study a major health issue in the US? Isn't that part of the charter of the CDC? I don't understand WHY you would specifically prohibit them from studying a public health issue? Can you imagine them passing a law that said "CDC not to study Ebola." Of course not. It's a political decision to cover up a very inconvenient truth.

Just FYI here's your CDC study: https://www.nap.edu/read/18319/chapter/1

 

[John VN]

I agree with you, but this is not the time. This is the time to face facts. And grieve.

There will be a time to explore whether more stringent laws would have mattered. There will be a time to explore whether the juvenile justice system (which this young man had participated in) failed. There will be a time to explore whether the mental health services were competent. There will be a time to explore whether the school administration (which had warned teachers about this young man, and had expelled him) failed.

This is not that time.

And people, conservative or liberal, who try to use this moment in time to further their personal political points of view...are pond scum. They're not trying to be helpful. They're trying to either get noticed, or to "take a stand!" That's show-biz.

This is just not the time. It isn't.

IMO, THE TIME HAS LONG PASSED.

 

[Domo]

You know what really gets up my nose? These things keep on happening. People get outraged, trump things around, but quickly gloss over them. Sandy Hook. Orlando. Las Vegas. Sutherland Springs. Luby's. The list is endless. So i implore you - DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! I know I'm just Johnny Foreigner, but I imagine that introducing more controls or something similar would proffer a good return on investment!

And on that note, I'll shut up.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

So this guy pulled a fire alarm and created a kill zone. Who wants to predict a future attack where a fire is set and people die because they think it is another situation like this and shelter in place instead of evacuate?

I told my DH the same thing. There has to be a better way to deal with emergencies. It amazes me that this hasn't already been addressed. That's a major oversight, IMO.

 

[robinb]

Thoughts and prayers for all families affected by this terrible incident. It's been horrible to watch on TV here in South Florida...and that's from a retired SWAT Team leader.

I also have to say that it's really pathetic to see everyone -- left and right -- jump in to get their 15 seconds of fame. There was a US Senator on the floor of the Senate making political talking points while this incident was still going on! What a slimy creep.

OK, now go ahead and post your own flavor of political talking points. Your thoughts are much more important than someone's dead child.

Senators have been told time and time again that "it's not time" to say anything about gun violence. Again and again we have mass shootings and school shootings and again and again we are told "it's not time". Perhaps the senator didn't want to be told again that "it was not time". I'm sorry that you think that perhaps it was not the time to say something while first responders were at the scene of the shooting because of someone's dead child. I disagree. It's time because of someone's dead child.