unsinkable Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Update: I am so sorry about the loss of life that result from the shooting in Washington State. Please send prayers and good thoughts to all those impacted by violence. Please, please, please let everyone be OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Yes, please. Please be o.k. http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/24/us/washington-school-shooting/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Just coming to share about this. The high school is about an hour away from us. Nice rural setting but not far north of Seattle. They are saying the shooter has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wounded, while several victims (one shot in the head) have been taken to hospital. Shooting apparently took place at 10:45 a.m. in the cafeteria ~ exactly where my guys were at that time at their high school. Very depressing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 :grouphug: to all involved. I'm hearing 3 dead (including the shooter) at this stage. :grouphug: My prayers go out to all. I wish these things would end. It always shakes up those of us IN schools when it happens as we know it could happen anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I don't think a day will ever come when I don't cry when I see these. My husband says he's numb to it. Those poor kids. And their poor families. I can't comprehend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 My neighbor attended this high school and has friends with children there. It's horrifying to watch unfold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: to everyone affected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I don't think a day will ever come when I don't cry when I see these. My husband says he's numb to it. Those poor kids. And their poor families. I can't comprehend it. They get me numb, but with a whole different meaning to the word. When they happen, news gets around the school quickly. I definitely feel for the whole school. We've lost students to car accidents & a couple of other things before and it's emotionally awful within the school when that happens. I don't want to experience a shooting like this and wish no one had to go through it. The emotions would be magnified - needlessly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 My neighbor attended this high school and has friends with children there. It's horrifying to watch unfold. :grouphug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainySunday Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Sad, scary, and sickening. Ugh, I wish it didn't ever come to this. My dh is a teacher at a public elem. in WA. We live about 30 minutes from this school. So sad, so close to home. (It's always sad, and hard to deal with, but close to home is a little extra tough to swallow. I think because it makes it feel more real?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Sad, scary, and sickening. Ugh, I wish it didn't ever come to this. My dh is a teacher at a public elem. in WA. We live about 30 minutes from this school. So sad, so close to home. (It's always sad, and hard to deal with, but close to home is a little extra tough to swallow. I think because it makes it feel more real?) Probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugs Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 This is my hometown. It is sooooo sad; my heart is in my stomach. Several kids from our church go to this school and, so far, are okay physically). One child was supposedly friends with the shooter. Please pray for my community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 This is my hometown. It is sooooo sad; my heart is in my stomach. Several kids from our church go to this school and, so far, are okay physically). One child was supposedly friends with the shooter. Please pray for my community. :grouphug: You're in my prayers. :grouphug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Now that I have TV on I'm seeing three listed as critical. I'm hoping those might be the three I heard were dead vs another three. I probably need to quit watching TV. But still, :grouphug: for all involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Now that I have TV on I'm seeing three listed as critical. I'm hoping those might be the three I heard were dead vs another three. I'm not watching TV, but via other sources, the shooter is the one confirmed fatality thus far. Four others are injured, three very critically. The Seattle Times newspaper is reporting one more fatality, but other local media haven't yet reported that. As with all news these days, the story is in constant flux. ETA: Police have now confirmed one additional fatality in addition to the shooter. The three critically injured students are in surgery. All have head wounds as they were shot at point-blank range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Shame on us. Is all I have to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 :crying: and many prayers for all those affected by this... :grouphug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugs Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 They just confirmed the shooter and one more person died. :crying: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vera Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Shame on us. Is all I have to say. I wish there was a love button. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 in addition to the shooter, the local news has one listed as deceased. I've read they took one to harborview in seattle, that is a major *regional* level 1 trauma center - so it would imply that person is very critical. providence in everett said they have recieved three others that are listed as critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 in addition to the shooter, the local news has one listed as deceased. I've read they took one to harborview in seattle, that is a major *regional* level 1 trauma center - so it would imply that person is very critical. Yes, typically Harborview would receive a more critical patient, but that apparently wasn't the case. The boy taken there is out of surgery and in stable condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Or Harborview was able to operate on and stabilize a critical case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Or Harborview was able to operate on and stabilize a critical case. I was just relaying info from a hospital spokesperson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 in addition to the shooter, the local news has one listed as deceased. I've read they took one to harborview in seattle, that is a major *regional* level 1 trauma center - so it would imply that person is very critical. providence in everett said they have recieved three others that are listed as critical. My thought is that Harborview has doctors who are experienced in dealing with certain types of trauma. So even if the patient wasn't in critical condition, the required expertise for treatment could be the criteria for sending the patient to Harborview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckles Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 This is where I live. I'm emotionally spent. I have a 10th grader, but she attends a neighboring school. I teach Elementary school. It was a tough day to keep my upbeat and happy face on until the children went home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 This is where I live. I'm emotionally spent. I have a 10th grader, but she attends a neighboring school. I teach Elementary school. It was a tough day to keep my upbeat and happy face on until the children went home. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 This is where I live. I'm emotionally spent. I have a 10th grader, but she attends a neighboring school. I teach Elementary school. It was a tough day to keep my upbeat and happy face on until the children went home. (((HUGS))) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I'm not sure I understand the gist of this comment. Why shame on us? We didn't shoot anyone? I don't want to assume something you didn't mean to imply, so I have my dense and confused face on, here! 2 years ago, guy with a gun kills 20 first graders. We do nothing. Absolutely nothing. This is at least the fifth school shooting since then. There will be a sixth, and a seventh.... we all know it. And we do nothing. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/10/24/school-shootings-seattle-columbine/17846763/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Utterly heartbreaking. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) nm Edited October 25, 2014 by Susan Wise Bauer That's a personal attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 "In the years after the Port Arthur massacre, the risk of dying by gunshot in Australia fell by more than 50% -- and stayed there. In the 16 years since the announcement of legislation specifically designed to reduce gun massacres, Australia has seen no mass shootings. Gun deaths which attract smaller headlines are 80 times more common, yet the national rate of gun homicide remains 30 times lower than that of the United States."http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/16/opinion/australia-gun-laws/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 People are still in critical condition. Let it rest or take it somewhere else. I mean this in the most respectful tone possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 People are still in critical condition. Let it rest or take it somewhere else. I mean this in the most respectful tone possible. I must respectfully disagree. It's because there are still children in critical condition (as well as a couple who are no longer living) that we DO need to have a conversation, as a country. In addition to those who were physically harmed, how many more have been emotionally & mentally traumatized by seeing/living through the events today? How many times do we let this happen & say it's a tragedy, yet turn a blind eye as far as refusing to support policy change? For those who are interested in researching more, perhaps a place to start finding some various studies: http://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/criminal-justice/mass-murder-shooting-sprees-and-rampage-violence-research-roundup# Just one sobering paragraph: As a 2011 United Nations report notes, America has a “relatively high homicide rate compared to other countries with a similar socio-economic level,†but per-capita homicide rates in the Caribbean, Central America and Africa are often much higher and approach “crisis†levels there. The relationship between gun availability and homicide rates is, according to an American Journal of Criminal Justice paper, “not stable across nations.†Even so, a 2011 study in the Journal of Trauma compared the United States with similar nations and found that U.S. homicide rates were “6.9 times higher than rates in the other high-income countries, driven by firearm homicide rates that were 19.5 times higher. For 15-year olds to 24-year olds, firearm homicide rates in the United States were 42.7 times higher than in the other countries.†Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Oh no no no not this again. I was busy shopping and getting ready to go visit my dad and missed this. I'm really afraid to read the news. I pray that everyone is ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 There was a discussion yesterday on reddit about the Ottawa shooting and how the Canadian media is focusing on the survivors and not the shooter, whereas the U.S. media talks about the shooter so much and gives them a lot of attention. It attracts people who are already unstable. And we need to cut back on the sensationalism. Here's an example of CBC's headline vs. CNN's: http://i.imgur.com/Sdu5Goj.jpg http://i.imgur.com/NKWayH2.png Here's an interesting video of Sergeant-At-Arms Vickers, who shot the Ottawa gunman yesterday. He returned to the House of Commons today and received an ovation. It's very touching but I really feel for him too. I'm glad he did what he did but you can see it weighs heavy on him that he took a man's life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu5XX-OTunc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I'm editing this down to my point - the root is in the person and not the tool they choose to act with. And the law abiding citizens who respect the safety and condition of others and who would observe such laws aren't the ones the laws are aimed at mitigating, anyway. Respectfully I will leave it there. No minds will be changed on the topic of policy for arguing this further, as I think the history of discourse on this topic has shown. Today's shooting was a high school freshman who reportedly got upset about a girl who wouldn't date him. He shot 4 people. Saying "the tool" is not the problem, the person is, is a very cold thing to say with one dead teenager, 2 in critical condition and one kid shot in the jaw in serious condition. And, of course, the shooter himself in the morgue. Teen boys upset over a girl happens every day. This, with the bloodshed and a school evacuated and a community stunned, only happens in America. "The tool doesn't matter" is what makes this happen over and over and over and over again here. It's horrifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Today's shooting was a high school freshman who reportedly got upset about a girl who wouldn't date him. He shot 4 people. Saying "the tool" is not the problem, the person is, is a very cold thing to say with one dead teenager, 2 in critical condition and one kid shot in the jaw in serious condition. And, of course, the shooter himself in the morgue. Teen boys upset over a girl happens every day. This, with the bloodshed and a school evacuated and a community stunned, only happens in America. "The tool doesn't matter" is what makes this happen over and over and over and over again here. It's horrifying. We don't have a moral consensus in our country, and nothing is unthinkable. That's the problem. It is crazy. My heart goes out to that whole community. What a nightmare, and so utterly senseless, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cammie Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I have read that this is the 75th incident of gun violence at a school since Sandy Hook. (Figure includes shootings/suicides by gun/crime related/etc.) Heartbreaking. Tragic. Sick. This can be stopped, if only our politicians had the political backbone to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I have read that this is the 75th incident of gun violence at a school since Sandy Hook. (Figure includes shootings/suicides by gun/crime related/etc.) Actually, it is at least the 87th school shooting in the US since Sandy Hook (includes a detailed list of incidents): http://everytown.org/article/schoolshootings/ Data: Incidents were classified as school shootings when a firearm was discharged inside a school building or on school or campus grounds, as documented in publicly reported news accounts. This includes assaults, homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings. Incidents in which guns were brought into schools but not fired there, or were fired off school grounds after having been possessed in schools, were not included. That is a very scary statistic to read. That many in less than two years. I can hardly fathom it. As I said, how long can we as a country turn a blind eye? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I don't know that "shame on us" is appropriate here. Shame on Internet culture? Maybe. Anyone can find his niche. His underbelly. His (or her) micro groupies. The kid was used to getting his own way.!how dare some girl tell him no? I think we mostly just can't wrap our minds around it. How is it our kids are doing this to each other seemingly so casually?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 2 years ago, guy with a gun kills 20 first graders. We do nothing. Absolutely nothing. This is at least the fifth school shooting since then. There will be a sixth, and a seventh.... we all know it. And we do nothing. You evidently do not work in a school if you think nothing has been being done. I'm not sure I could count the changes from actual physical changes (locked doors, visitor routing through the office, the attempt to keep super good track of where each student is at all times, etc) and emotional/mental ones (guidance, mental support, mandatory reporting of more, paperwork detailing any/all incidents, more consequences for bullying, etc). I've been working in our school district for 15 years now. The changes in that time have been tremendous - and essentially all of it post Columbine. We will never be able to stop everyone, esp in a case like this one has turned out to be where literally no one expected it of this kid, but I suspect many, many, many have been stopped. You just don't hear about those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 This is so tragic. If what I read is true (about all of his tweets) he was obviously troubled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horsellian Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 You evidently do not work in a school if you think nothing has been being done. I'm not sure I could count the changes from actual physical changes (locked doors, visitor routing through the office, the attempt to keep super good track of where each student is at all times, etc) and emotional/mental ones (guidance, mental support, mandatory reporting of more, paperwork detailing any/all incidents, more consequences for bullying, etc). But to really make a difference it isn't the schools where things need to be done, is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 But to really make a difference it isn't the schools where things need to be done, is it? Actually, I think the schools are a great place - esp considering how difficult it is to reach everyone via their home-life. I can't think of any other better option to be honest. We lose far more kids and young adults to drugs or distracted/impaired driving accidents, including innocent kids who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time or who died merely due to being friends. These have impacted our school on almost an annual basis (sadly). As of today (knock on wood) we haven't had a shooting among students or from outsiders getting into our school. We try various methods to reach everyone with education about those too, but I don't think it will ever be possible to eliminate all potential for dangers out there. It doesn't mean it's not worth trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I don't know that "shame on us" is appropriate here. Shame on Internet culture? Maybe. Anyone can find his niche. His underbelly. His (or her) micro groupies. The kid was used to getting his own way.!how dare some girl tell him no? I think we mostly just can't wrap our minds around it. How is it our kids are doing this to each other seemingly so casually?? Access to firearms. It's not the whole answer, but it's an enormous factor in every one of these instances. Every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Access to firearms. It's not the whole answer, but it's an enormous factor in every one of these instances. Every time. How are we realistically going to change this? In my rural culture where the first day of rifle deer season is an official school holiday due to many students and teachers wanting to hunt, how, exactly, are we supposed to limit teens from getting their hands on legal weapons and not potentially using them to do harm instead of hunt if they chose to do so? Are we to ban hunting? If so, why? We haven't had a single episode around here (again, knock on wood as I feel it could happen anywhere). We've had more deaths in our school alone than I would like from distracted teen drivers. Should that mean we ban cars to save innocent lives? I think trying our best to interact and learn about the kids - their inner lives, not just their exterior - from a friendship/mentor sort of way will do far more, and not just for those few who might snap, but for all. I do my best to see that I don't leave any behind if I can help it. And it may sound dumb, but each time after one of these happens, I take a moment in each of my classes to remind kids that life isn't perfect - that things will go wrong - that their friends might let them down - that their emotions will run high - and that's it's just plain WRONG to kill someone over it. They laugh a little mainly because I try to do it in a light way rather than another boring lecture, but hopefully the message does stay there - esp if anyone is on the edge and not really sure. The teen years are learning years. Things we might take for granted, they might not have learned yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Access to firearms. It's not the whole answer, but it's an enormous factor in every one of these instances. Every time. and in this case, he was a member of the tulalip tribe. I don't know if you have reservations near where you live - but reservations have their own laws. (they also have their own courts) things that are illegal in the rest of the state - are legal there. period. US gun laws would not have kept him from getting his parents weapon. just like Canada's very strict gun laws did not keep a gun out of the hands of a terrorist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeteranMom Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Just reading some of the tweets from the shooter and some of the victims. This goes way deeper than access to guns. These kids are raising themselves and each other. Is there any guidance? Where in the world are the parents?? These kids have access to each other 24/7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJosMom Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I don't know that "shame on us" is appropriate here. Shame on Internet culture? Maybe. Anyone can find his niche. His underbelly. His (or her) micro groupies. The kid was used to getting his own way.!how dare some girl tell him no? I think we mostly just can't wrap our minds around it. How is it our kids are doing this to each other seemingly so casually?? This. See, I'm old. I remember the days when every pick-up had a gun rack, and high school parking lots were full of firearms (especially during hunting season.) I don't remember these things happening. What has changed? What is happening to our children? How is this mind-set, "I feel rejected. Someone must die," being created? Yesterday was a rotten day. My heart breaks for everyone touched by this. I can't imagine the mothers' pain. I am so, so glad that I don't have to send DD to school every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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