Last week, several of my colleagues had kids on lockdown at Chattanooga State Community College because the administration received a threat to students on campus, and treated it as credible. Which, you know - right call.
Nothing materialized, but I've heard conflicting information about what actually happened. Was anything found? Were there hostages? When did they first hear and how long til they went on lockdown?
Thankfully, there were no physical injuries. Mental? Sure, many. But we keep moving forward.
Today, in Winder, GA - a town I've been to a few times, given the proximity to UGA - there was an incident. This time, it wasn't nothing. What we think we know at the moment is that a 14 year-old shooter went into a High School and started shooting. Currently there are at least four dead, and thirty injured. Plan on updates to those numbers going forward.
I don't get it. I really just don't. What happened to take that kid to a breaking point? How did that kid get a gun? What was going on with the kid's family? Did they know their kid was in a fragile state? Did any family think for once that they'd send their child to High School today for the last time ever?
How long until this isn't a top story online? What will politicos try to blame as the root cause? Video games? Strobe lights? Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Helicopter Parenting? HPV Vaccines? Nepo Babies?
All I can say is that every time this happens, I want it to be the last time, and it never is. That's my thought on the matter.
Kids - being in your tweens and teens is the worst. Hormones, school, parents, social media, other kids... it blows. But look at everyone older than you - they have made it through. Find someone who is older that you like, and ask them how they did it.
Because taking a deadly weapon into a crowded building may seem like a good idea in the moment, but think about fractals. If you hurt one person, it hurts hundreds of that person's people, and it just keeps rippling out.
So you know - don't shoot people.
ae
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Also it would be helpful if we could at least restrict access to some guns. I say this as someone who was nearly shot by my father. And who lived across the street from a kid who was nearly shot by his father. Those are just the near misses.