I agree with most of that. Michael Carneal (the Heath High School shooter, 20 years ago) said after the shooting that he had fantasies about murdering classmates* as far back as when he was in kindergarten! What sane person believes such a twisted mind** will not eventually find a way to carry out the evil that has taken root in him / her, no matter what means we try to prevent access to??
*I assume Carneal meant actually killing classmates, and not using a cap gun, which, curiously, many of us over 50 or so had in our youth, and despite many a session of “cowboys and Indians”, none of us ever dreamt of shooting a real gun at anyone.
**Later on, in my college years, I had a former roommate admit to gory nightmares in which he knifed his family to death. Strangely, he said he had no real conscious animus toward said family, and he never showed any violence or misbehavior such as Cruz (in FL) toward anyone I know of. I suggested counselling, but lost contact with him shortly thereafter — all I really know is he never showed up in the news...
Who in this “information age” is so naïve to believe a would be killer denied a gun will be prevented from causing many deaths, if that is what they are determined to do? Again I emphasize that in the case(s) of these school shootings, these are NOT individuals who suddenly snapped.
It seems to me that a LOT more could be done in the way of having older students and / or those demonstrated to have good “responsibility skills” act as leaders, or “big brothers and sisters” to search out and befriend kids who are shunned, bullied, or feel isolated. And I suspect a lot more can be done to teach kids inner strength and coping skills.
I also suggest that the NRA propose a program in which they or even local gun clubs partner with local Law Enforcement to, instead of denying all sales of firearms (or even specific firearms), to work with and screen potential young buyers, review backgrounds (publicly available info.), teach gun safety, etc. Young buyers would have to complete a NRA “program” and screening which would take 4 weeks, before being able to purchase a firearm or ammo. (Subsequent firearms repurchases would get a 2-session / week NRA “review”.) Records of approved buyers, beyond what are normally kept now, anyway, would be deleted after 1 year. Report problematic kids to LE, and make public inaction on such if it occurs. (Only the inaction and the LE responsible for it to be made public; young citizens’ names would be “redacted” in public statements by the NRA. This could be win-win: It gives the NRA a means to make overtures to more potential new members, while the NRA provides some of the “hours” and extended contact with buyers that local LE may not have. (I am thinking this up at 4:30 a.m., so it probably needs some refinement!)
Last... I wonder if current depictions of “super heroes”, super villains, etc., in movies and games, may be a factor in modern school shootings? “Back in the day”, I think teenage kids easily recognized “non-reality”. Today’s characters, take “The Hulk”, or “Thor”, for example, are more “fantastic” than ever, but are also through CGI, etc., made more “real”, or believable. There also is quite the trend of many “super heroes” depicted as misunderstood “nerds” or outcasts, who then redeem themselves through violence. The characters are exaggerated, but are still... too real, perhaps? Can this have a cumulative subconscious effect on our kids? Most of us already believe the level of violence and gore in many modern electronic games has some effect, but I am going beyond that...
My post was to highlight it’s the kids who need to be monitored and controlled, not so much guns. The earlier years, when most are in school, present the best opportunities to identify and resolve conduct and emotional issues, not when they become adults. Teachers can identify problem students that may need further assistance and emotional support beyond the classroom.
Absent parents and failed family relationships can also be determining factors in a kid’s emotional stability during this time. Parents need to take more responsibility and become more involved with their kids and their pals.
If anyone, parents,teachers, friends, etc, had spotted the red flags and councilled Cruz at an earlier age then maybe the course of events and the outcome could have changed to something more positive. Cruz carried a lot of emotional baggage for years and ultimately lost it. It appears he had no one he could trust.
The awareness issue is complicated and not clearly defined. Many people don’t want to get involved because they don’t know what to do about the situation or who to contact at a higher level if they are concerned. There needs to be some guidelines established.
Our prisons are full of inmates that have mental (illness) issues and histories similar to Cruz’s. It’s probably too late for them, but not for our kids.