Well, we can sure tell the school season has started again.....Update, page 8 # 143

[BlueStarryHat]

We have a little one starting kindergarten tomorrow. We are all so scared in my household, and it's not just the normal nerves or whatever when a kid starts school for the first time. Thank goodness our little one is oblivious to the idea that someone can just come in and shoot up the classroom-for now. He'll be given a harsh lesson when he has his first active shooter drill, I guess.

 

[bdrex28]

How recent a thing are semi-automatic, magazine fed weapons like the infamous AR-15 rifle?

The AR was designed in the 50s. Started as AR-5 then AR-10 then armarlite sold to colt who made the AR15 and sold both a civilian and military version.

Semi automatic rifles have been around a long time though. Semi automatic meaning you don't have to cycle the bolt yourself to produce another round in the chamber to be fired. These started being mass produced in the late 1800s.

I won't get into the differences between a gas operated semi automatic etc but I can tell you that a purchased AR is not what we use in the military. Big difference between an M4 or M27 than a civilian AR.

I should add i am for more gun control

 

[AustinTink]

We have a little one starting kindergarten tomorrow. We are all so scared in my household, and it's not just the normal nerves or whatever when a kid starts school for the first time. Thank goodness our little one is oblivious to the idea that someone can just come in and shoot up the classroom-for now. He'll be given a harsh lesson when he has his first active shooter drill, I guess.

I’ve worked in and around schools forever. Seeing the littlest ones learn the shooter drill is heartbreaking to watch.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

The AR was designed in the 50s. Started as AR-5 then AR-10 then armarlite sold to colt who made the AR15 and sold both a civilian and military version.

Semi automatic rifles have been around a long time though. Semi automatic meaning you don't have to cycle the bolt yourself to produce another round in the chamber to be fired. These started being mass produced in the late 1800s.

I won't get into the differences between a gas operated semi automatic etc but I can tell you that a purchased AR is not what we use in the military. Big difference between an M4 or M27 than a civilian AR.

I should add i am for more gun control

Thanks, @bdrex28, very informative

 

[wallawallakids]

I’ve worked in and around schools forever. Seeing the littlest ones learn the shooter drill is heartbreaking to watch.

This. I HATE that this is life my kids are used to. I HATE that I have to look for exits when I take them somewhere. I HATE that my kids have active shooter drills in school.

When Sandy Hook happened I had kids in elementary school. My oldest son was in 3rd grade. We tried to keep the news from him but another student at school told him about the shooting and of course our school was practicing drills that whole week. His class room had a glass window on the door and windows all around. The kids were instructed to hide behind the teacher's desk if someone came in shooting. My 8 year old came home upset that day. When I asked him what was wrong he looked at me and said "Mom, not all of us can fit behind the desk. What if I can't make it in time? What if my friends don't?" It broke me.

The issue is, it keeps happening. It isn't like this in Britain, Canada, or Sweden. This is an American problem.

I grew up with guns, I am not against guns. I am against high capacity magazines. There is no reason to have military grade weapons to protect yourself. I don't think gun control is 100% the answer, but I do think it is a part of the solution. And we need to stop hate and work on getting along. We need to support parents and kids. We need to make sure kids feel loved and accepted and seen. We need to make sure they are having their basic needs met. That means lunches and clothes and support. The biggest difference I see in the last 20 years is that we are no longer acting as a community. Everyone thinks about themselves, and it got worse after Covid. We just need to find a way to stop making the kids the ones who are responsible. I am sorry, but I absolutely think our government needs to do more to protect and support families and children. I don't have all the answers, but we can't just keep watching this happen over and over and change nothing. What we are doing now isn't working.

 

[SteveH]

This is always such a tough situation. Until we deal with the mental health aspects, and accountability I wouldn't support any gun control.

Around here we have passed additional taxes to fund significant changes; an extra fund for more police, 911 & judicial options (drug court, etc.) We also passed funding for one school district to have a retired police officer, with all the proper training and handgun, as well as direct communication with the Police department as well as the School District. They are about 90% staffed between our 3 high schools, 5 middle schools, 17 grade schools and 5 alternative schools. In addition all the schools are locked down and limited entry points, with metal detectors for HS and MS. Even the faith based schools have implemented lockdown of facilities.

While I am not a fan of State taxes, I am happy to support local solutions where we have more control over the ways the money is spent. Now if the State can stop creating some lunatic laws and let us enforce the laws on the books we might get some sanity back.

 

[The Mayor]

I was just reading the the school was notified that there was going to be a shooting today at five schools and Apalachee was first on the list and the school did nothing to prevent it. IF this is true then everyone involved in that decision should be fired, arrested and prosecuted. No excuse in these times to ignore a warning like that.

Now that said this is another senseless tragedy but one that possibly could have been prevented. I'm a gun owner and own several pistols for target shooting and protection and several rifles for hunting and I believe firmly in the Second Amendment. However, I have always said I see no reason for anyone to own any weapon like an AR-15. All the gun clubs in my area don't even allow them on the premises for target shooting.

 

[lisaviolet]

My 8 year old came home upset that day. When I asked him what was wrong he looked at me and said "Mom, not all of us can fit behind the desk. What if I can't make it in time? What if my friends don't?" It broke me.

Tears are streaming down my face. I am so very sorry.

 

[lisaviolet]

The issue is, it keeps happening. It isn't like this in Britain, Canada, or Sweden. This is an American problem.

If some of our kids had the access they would do it too.

They are not this crazy different entity. We are no bastion of exceptional upbringings. There are children here that can not regulate their emotions. There are children here that are relentlessly bullied. There are children here that play violent video games. There are children here that have awful thoughts. There are children here that need access to mental health, and are not getting the proper services (Ditto for adults that are about to snap.)

We are not the keepers of some full tribe of exceptional youth -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ken-lee-victim-swarming-attack-toronto-1.6708778

---------

And once again, year after year I chime in to point out that the speed of a weapon impacts -

*A hero trying to stop it, before he or she gets mowed down themselves
*Time for police to arrive
*Amount killed
*Time for those in danger to simply think


And what we never discuss is doctors sharing how hard it is to save a life when internal organs have been absolutely pulverized. They have spoken out about the change in their job with certain weapons and no one listens.
Also, we often forget those who live have changed lives - physically and mentally.

 

[georgina]

Report the weapon was an’AR-platform-style weapon’ and he was interviewed by the FBI a year ago for making school shooting threats. At that time his dad claimed the kid did not have access to his ‘hunting’ weapons. (WaPo article)

 

[luvthatduke]

FBI knew the shooter & his father after interviewing them both in 2023.
Apparently father said he had multiple weapons in the house but
that his son couldn't get to them.
I think the father was wrong.

And, IMHO, if the shooter was "on the radar" then why was he allowed in school?
Or, at least watched or something.


https://www.foxnews.com/us/georgia-school-shooter-fbi-radar-2023-possible-threat-online-remarks

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

This week in Ireland, my friends from Arizona are settling their 18 year old son into University in Dublin. A few years ago when he was in highschool, he researched colleges in Ireland and asked his parents could he apply, as quote " he wanted to go to college but he didnt want to die" For the next 4 years he can live on campus and go to classes in Dublin without worrying is today the day he gets shot in class. Ireland and Dublin does have our own problems and issues but at least our kids are safe in school.

 

[Pink Partridge]

And, IMHO, if the shooter was "on the radar" then why was he allowed in school?

There are students that scream threats at teachers every day and are allowed back in school. Heck, there are students that assault teachers that are allowed in school. I don't know why, but it's just how it is.

The FBI visited this defective child's home lasr year. He was literally under the radar. And still, he found a way to get a gun and murder.

 

[kymom99]

Move along, nothing to see here. More guns are needed. Ahhh and here comes the first truck full of thoughts and prayers.

in other news.

IMMIGRANTS IMMIGRANTS IMMIGRANTS HAVE TAKEN OVER AN APARTMENT COMPLEX!!!!!

Edit Sorry. Had to edit a lot of the meat out of this post. It's a comment on the state of the news media.

My local news yesterday had as their top story at 6:00 pm, whether or not Ja’Marr chase would be playing in the bengals season opener sunday.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Well, it seems they knew this kid was an issue. And they knew that Dad had lots of guns at home. And so, if our latest underaged school shooter somehow got a hold of one of Daddy's AR-15s, then charge dear old Dad the same way that they did the two absentee parents in Michigan. I haven't seen if this kid got the gun from someplace other than home....but we'll know soon enough.

But...if he did manage to get his hands on it at home....bring the parents up on charges. I'm sure the family members of those murdered would agree. Video games don't kill people.....but guns laying around the house just might.

 

[PollyannaMom]

And we as a society aren't even horrified anymore - it was on my news, but then right on to the next story.

I'm pretty sure I would homeschool if I had a little one now.

 

[C&Jx2]

I think lots of things have changed and I really do believe much of it stems from social media and tech. Kids grow up living on their phones now. The communication skills just aren't there anymore. When someone was being bullied before it was visible and for the the most part handled. Kids today (and many adults) have no idea how to problem solve anymore because they don't have to. There are no interpersonal skills. They can just text, cyberbully, get lost in their phones etc... Now feelings are so internalized. Warning signs are missed by parents or other people involved because there is this facade on social media and they are lost in their own world too. There is also the aspect of this instant gratification like, "I want to feel better right now" and so... These tragic things happen.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Report the weapon was an’AR-platform-style weapon’ and he was interviewed by the FBI a year ago for making school shooting threats. At that time his dad claimed the kid did not have access to his ‘hunting’ weapons. (WaPo article)

The dad should be charged with murder right along with the kid and put behind bars for life. Make that stick for enough parents, and I bet they'll start finding ways to actually keep guns out of their kids' hands.

 

[dvcgirl67]

The dad should be charged with murder right along with the kid and put behind bars for life. Make that stick for enough parents, and I bet they'll start finding ways to actually keep guns out of their kids' hands.

Yup...100% agree. Start throwing the parents in prison. Maybe some of them will think twice before filling their homes with guns like they anticipate being "under attack", or "invaded", or just love guns and taking junior to the shooting range. Why should everyone else in the country have to live in fear? Throw the person who left their gun unattended in jail.

 

[EACarlson]

I'm a gun owner and own several pistols for target shooting and protection and several rifles for hunting and I believe firmly in the Second Amendment. However, I have always said I see no reason for anyone to own any weapon like an AR-15. All the gun clubs in my area don't even allow them on the premises for target shooting.

If you believe that no individual should own an AR style weapon, you absolutely do not "firmly believe in the Second Amendment." The entire reason for the second amendment was that the individual citizen should have access to arms equal to the government has. You want me to give up my AR's remove all automatic rifles from every government agency.

FBI knew the shooter & his father after interviewing them both in 2023.
Apparently father said he had multiple weapons in the house but
that his son couldn't get to them.
I think the father was wrong.

And, IMHO, if the shooter was "on the radar" then why was he allowed in school?
Or, at least watched or something.


https://www.foxnews.com/us/georgia-school-shooter-fbi-radar-2023-possible-threat-online-remarks

Because there is believed to be a right to public education that transcends the rights of others to be safe. It's almost impossible to kick a kid out of public schools.

Well, it seems they knew this kid was an issue. And they knew that Dad had lots of guns at home. And so, if our latest underaged school shooter somehow got a hold of one of Daddy's AR-15s, then charge dear old Dad the same way that they did the two absentee parents in Michigan. I haven't seen if this kid got the gun from someplace other than home....but we'll know soon enough.

But...if he did manage to get his hands on it at home....bring the parents up on charges. I'm sure the family members of those murdered would agree. Video games don't kill people.....but guns laying around the house just might.

The relevant issue is how did he get his hands on hit at home? If the parents were negligent in storage, then I'm all for charging the parents. If they kept the firearms in a safe that the kid broke into? Then if we're going to start charging parents for the criminality of their kids, where does it stop? Do we charge and convict the parents of every teenage shooter in the country?

Yup...100% agree. Start throwing the parents in prison. Maybe some of them will think twice before filling their homes with guns like they anticipate being "under attack", or "invaded", or just love guns and taking junior to the shooting range. Why should everyone else in the country have to live in fear? Throw the person who left their gun unattended in jail.

You're assuming the gun was unattended and not secure. You'll have to wait a while before anything factual is known.