“The Colorado Attack is the 7th Mass Shooting in 7 Days in the US”, was the title of the first article to appear on my CNN feed this morning. As a Colorado resident and person with many friends that attend the University of Colorado Boulder, the King Soopers shooting with 10 fatalities feels painfully close to home. The reality is that gun violence tragedies are not isolated incidents. Josh Berlinger’s summation of the shootings that have occurred over the past week does not have to be overly descriptive or persuasive to relay the gravity of the gun-control issue in the United States. The fact that Berlinger can list multiple horrific events within such a short period speaks to the undeniable need for gun-control. The danger is inescapable as long as guns are so easily accessible.
Perusing CNN, I came across another article, “How Today's Kids 'Profile' Potential Mass Shooters -- and Why It's The Reason For Hope”. Because the event in Boulder involved and affected many members of the CU community, the matter of school shootings is highly pertinent to this discussion. The author of the article, psychologist John Duffy, has discovered that profiling students who express an intent to kill or have direct access to firearms may not be the most effective tactic to identifying students of concern. He claims that teenagers are far more intuitive when it comes to seeing a threat in their peers who are facing emotional hardship. Students are sensitive to the kids who are ostracized within the school community; instead of focusing on the young people who appear ‘evil’, teenagers suggest that professionals look into the individuals who are hurting and alone. Teenagers attending school do not feel safe or as though adults are being proactive in facilitating change, so they are guiding the way themselves. The students who Duffy works with befriend those individuals in their schools who they feel are battling sadness and alienation. By doing so, they are making the statement that adults are not doing enough and they are taking the preventative measures needed to save lives. Students are actively engaging in conversations that could deter a potential gunman from pulling the trigger.
Duffy acknowledges that the work of students who establish connections with the disenfranchised contributes more to a transparent and safe environment than under-the-radar profiling which does not reach the core of the issue. Because kids hold so much intel on their peers and are invaluable resources to helping navigate the school shooting epidemic, it is wise for adults to support the youth emotionally through very dark situations. Duffy recommends that adults hold honest conversations about the realities of these events, try to ease anxiety and fears around attending school, and lastly, listen with interest to their opinions. If today’s youth is to continue their steps towards a secure school experience, they need to feel that the older generation of people is supporting them along the way.
While I agree with Duffy’s approach of turning to kids for information regarding the social dynamics within their schools, I think it is inappropriate to single out individuals who appear to be lonely or depressed and assume that they could have a killer complex. The education system needs to prioritize mental wellness while not exploiting people for their differences. The conversations around mental health need to be held, but also kept sacred. Students that are considering self-harm or harming others should be monitored but they also need to trust the process of healing. They need to have confidence in authorities so they do not rebel. It is so important to construct an atmosphere where students feel comfortable in confronting their disturbing emotions, talking through these feelings, and growing. This type of communication will allow students to release their pain in a healthy, supported manner, and discourage them from turning to weapons.
Duffy, John. “Why You Should Listen to What Kids Have to Say about Mass Shootings.” CNN, Cable News Network, 23 Mar. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/03/23/health/mass-shooting-kid-solutions-wellness/index.html.
Berlinger, Josh. “The Colorado Attack Is the 7th Mass Shooting in 7 Days in the US.” CNN, Cable News Network, 23 Mar. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/03/23/us/7-mass-shootings-7-days-trnd/index.html.
While in high school, I expressed concerns that I had to the dean with regard to one of my peers who had repeatedly made threats to another student who bullied him. They addressed the bully, but never really approached him with any assistance. While I understand that imposing our biases upon others could be offensive at the same time when there are actual threats being made I think it's the responsibility of the school to immediately address any concerns the students bring forward. The dynamic between the two never changed despite the minimal action taken by the school but luckily nothing ever came of it.
In accordance with Acacia and Richard, it upsets me that this issue always becomes political and turns to legislation about gun violence. Similar to the blog I wrote about long-term reporting on survivors and how the news cycle tends to forget about these mass shootings all too quickly, I think the Boulder shooting is an opportunity to talk about both the lack of mental health resources students have and how the news media can work towards changing the narrative about gun control laws (which seem to always fade away with time...). I don't see the problem with checking in on peers and classmates who seem lonely and isolated, but I do see a problem with the idea that students should…
Too often in the coverage of these tragedies is "mental health issues" mentioned. Guns have always been a part of American culture and while a discussion can be had about the viability of gun ownership, it is a hot button issue that results in people taking one side or the other. What should not be up for debate is the need for more emphasis on mental health. These tragedies could and should be used to highlight the need for more mental health resources. Whether it is a veteran with PTSD, or a depressed high school student, many of these tragic losses of life could potentially have been avoided had the proper resources been available and utilized. It should not be…
While I appreciate the sentiment, it's so disappointing that America is so unwilling to confront the mass shootings that they are placing the burden on students to identify their own potential killers. Looking at your own classmates and assessing their potential to one day murder you is a horrible dynamic for a learning environment. Students are meant to be in school to learn, not analyze threat levels. We had school shooter trainings at my schools for as long as I can recall. I remember thinking to myself that we were showing the shooters all of our own safety protocols, rendering them useless. My classmates and I were no longer a team or united front against the threat, and it was…