School Shooting West of Madison WI (Update: Principal has died)

WTMJ 620 AM Radio ^ | Sept. 29, 2006 | WTMJ 620 AM

[SoldierDad]

According to news reports I've seen, the perp is blaming this on "bullying". Of course, his claim is after the fact (as in most of these cases).

[LibertyRocks]

What is it about kids these days that they think "bullying" is an excuse? I guess this is the whole "victim" mentality pushed by so many liberals asserting itself. As the survivor of several true crimes myself I cannot understand this attitude - especially when applied to "bullying". Since I can see through the things done to me and not exact revenge for them I can't possibly understand how these people see their problems resolved in this way. It just plain makes me sick...

How to turn this all around will obviously take some deep thinking which I am not feeling up to at this moment...

[SoldierDad]

The "bullying" excuse is a relatively new phenomenon with respect to these school shootings thanks to Columbine. Such a big deal was made about "bullying" in the media, and by Michael Moore, that any thug who goes and shoots someone at a school now uses this as their reason.

I was truly bullied in middle and high school in a Northern CA town where this was not only acceptable by the school staff, it was encouraged. For example, after being at the school for less than two weeks while in 7th grade, some kid (I didn't know him, he didn't know me) tried to pick a fight with me. A teacher stopped us, but then took us to a portable with a makeshift boxing ring and gave us both boxing gloves. He told us to have at it. I refused, and spent the next two years as a target for groups of three to four students who were out looking for some fun by picking on others. I ended up moving after the 8th grade to live with my father, but returned to this town for my junior year. These kids picked up right where they left off, and after three months I quit school never to return. It took me a long time to make up for those lost years of schooling, but I did. I now am a School Psychologist helping children when I can to deal with these types of abuses.

And, I never shot anyone. Want some advice on turning this problem around? We need to have a reformation on the electronic media for starters. The violence that kids see on T.V. has had a detrimental effect on children today. We also need to bolster the family unit. Children should be raised in households with two parents, and they should both be competent in parenting skills. These might be some ways to address this, but I'm not sure how to get those two things to happen.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"The best part is that even if one is not inclined to carry their own firearm, they can go along "for the free ride" because the filthy criminal element won't be able to tell who is whom."

This, one, statement explains the second amendment to the fullest. The purpose of the second amendment is not so that there can be more killing, but so there can be less. It is to make the criminal think before commiting a crime. In essence it is to scare the criminal from committing his/her crimes.

[the anti-liberal]

Thank you - I've bookmarked that page.

I like the 'The Five Pillars of the Liberal Faith'!

Though I don't really care for the music, but that's just me. :')

[Samwise]

"You must have teachers who are also Sheepdogs."


I caught your reference, so I reread this thread. I am posting it for anyone who may have missed the original.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1687633/posts

Thanks to all our sheepdogs!

[LibertyRocks]

Dear FRiends,

Hello! This is a "one-time" ping. I gathered screen names for this ping from those who originally posted on this thread. Also pinged are some who are on my news links list (you know who you are (o:). I just wanted to let everyone know about the memorial information for John Klang and Erik Fichtel (the student killed in the car accident). Also included in this post is info about a focus page I created on my blog for this incident, and info about a "wonderful" editorial that appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal over the weekend (for those who care about the 2nd Amendment & gun locks and such...) Apologies for the long post... - LR

Following is memorial information for both Weston HS Principal John Klang, and Weston HS Student Erik Fichtel:

 

Prayers for comfort and strength for the family, and all the friends and colleagues of Mr. John Klang.

John Klang will forever be remembered by all who hear his story as a brave hero, who gave his life in defense of others. I did not know Mr. Klang, but his friends and colleagues obviously had a lot of love, and respect for him as evident in their praise, not only of his heroic actions that day, but in the way he lived his life. If we can take anything away from this tragedy perhaps it is to aspire to be the same kind of person Mr. Klang was -- to give of ourselves to others in need.

Visitation for Principal John Klang will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 at the Farber Funeral home in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. A funeral service will be held for John on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 11 a.m. in the Weston High School Gymnasium in Cazenovia, Wisconsin.

Prayers of comfort and strength are also being said for the family and friends, of Erik Fichtel, a 16-year-old Weston Schools Student who was killed in a car accident on Friday September 29th just minutes before the tragic school shooting. The funeral for Erik Fichtel will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 at 11 a.m. at the Lime Ridge Catholic Church, in Lime Ridge, Wisconsin.

The whole community of Cazenovia and the surrounding rural communities are also being offered prayers as the impact from this double tragedy has got to be especially devastating to this extremely small area.

Cross Graphic is from IconBazaar.com

FOCUS PAGE INFO:
I have created a Focus Page covering the Weston High School Shooting which took place in Cazenovia, Wisconsin on September 29, 2006. The Focus Page includes a summary of the events, information about memorial services for both Principal Klang, and the Weston HS student Erik Fichtel who was killed in a car crash earlier that morning, and a transcript of the first press conference held the day of the incident.

The page also includes what will be a continuously updated listing of information, media articles, video, audio & slideshow links, links to related columns and editorials as well as other semi-related media offerings, message board information, downloadable documents, and more detailed information about the car accident that claimed the life of Erik Fichtel.

You can access the in-depth coverage here; "FOCUS PAGE: SCHOOL SHOOTING AT WESTON HS - CAZENOVIA, WI - 29 SEPTEMBER 2006"

WSJ EDITORIAL INFO:
There was an editorial that appeared in Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal titled "Rally for More Free Gun Locks" taking the opportunity of this tragic shooting and the fact that Erik Hainstock used his father's guns in the incident to push again for gun locks, even though it is mentioned that gun locks may not have prevented Friday's tragic events. They state in the editorial;

Gun locks should not be a political issue. They are a safety issue everyone should agree on.

Some gun owners argue that a lock defeats the purpose of the weapon. They want to be able to pull it from a drawer and use it to impede an intruder.

But disabling a gun lock can take just seconds. And it could save a life. It could even stop another murder of an educator at any of thousands of public schools across south-central Wisconsin.

Responsible gun owners should have gun locks on all of their firearms.

Act now on your outrage at last week's terrible events.

And if you can't afford a lock, we'll find a free one for you.

You can sound off about this editorial directly on the WSJ site by following the "Forum Page" link in the citation below or by email to: wsjopine@madison.com. It doesn't require any personal information to post at the forum, just a creative guest name.

“RALLY FOR MORE FREE GUN LOCKS" - Editors - The Wisconsin State Journal - Madison Newspapers Inc. - Madison, Wisconsin, US - 1 October 2006 [NOTES: You can express your opinions about this editorial on this FORUM PAGE.]

[ExSoldier]

Thanks to all our sheepdogs!

Speaking for the Sheepdogs in the school system...you're welcome. But...we're everywhere. In fact I'd wager a hefty sum that a great percentage of freepers....especially those who track the BANG LIST...are themselves...Sheepdogs. Give yourselves a hand!

[SoldierDad]

Thank you for this ping. The members of that community have endured a great loss in such a short time. I pray that they receive God's mercy and support.

[LibertyRocks]

You're welcome.

[LibertyRocks]

CORRECTION:
I stated in my post that the forum at WSJ did not require registration.

While this is true for a forum they have created for the shooting itself, it is not true for the forum regarding the editorial.

I apologize for not realizing that.

[Tired of Taxes]

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL PING!

No doubt, you've probably read this story already. But here's a belated ping, anyway...

This ping list is for the "other" articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. If you want on/off this list, please freepmail me. The main Homeschool Ping List by DaveLoneRanger handles the homeschool-specific articles.

[LibertyRocks]

Thank you so much for posting a link to that. What an incredible way to explain the world we are faced with... I only wish more on the "left" would have an opportunity to read it and understand...

[knittnmom]

Thank you.

As to the WSJ efforts - I'm thinking gun locks would not have made a difference this time. Liberals! Yeesh.

[js1138]

It's the more the policy of forcing degradation and subservience on people when they're in school. Some people don't react well to that. You can only poke an animal so many times before it bites back. As long as things remain as they are, this will continue.

Schools were much less authoritarian in the good old days. And pigs have wings.

I really thought blaming the victim was a liberal passtime.

[wintertime]

I am willing to bet that this little girl was back in school the very next day, and "socializing" with this death-threatening kid.

Is this the wonderful "socialization" that homeschoolers are missing?

[wintertime]

you could roll the society back to the 1950s, then the problem of armed school violence would shrink to nothingness, even in the predominantly public schools

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

In the pre-1950 school, even kids carried rifles to school for target practice. My brother was one of them.

[petitfour]

I don't know that you could call it socializing. But you're right. The girl was back at school. And the boy was there as well. But our child wasn't. And I don't know what the status of the police involvement is.

[GSlob]

Yep, but were they using fellow students and school employees for targets?

[Joe Brower]

Check out post #9. What were we saying earlier about media-inspired copycat crime?

Great find, theFIRMbss.