How do we do a better job as a society, to find the warning signs that could prevent, school shootings?

Question

No child, or teacher should have to fear being shot at school.

We already know, they are not going to ban guns, so we need a better solution, than arguing about something that will not happen.

What can we do, to help diagnose these children, that are struggling with a mental illness, before they go on a murdering spree.

Children are dying, and making this a political argument won't resolve this.

What are realistic solutions, that we can think of

CheeseMonster · Accepted Answer

It's not a mental health problem. Well yes, awful or no mental health care is a huge problem in the US. But that's not really the cause of shootings. It's just a scape goat.

There's many people with mental health problems who don't become shooters. Having mental health problems doesn't make you a shooter. In fact most of the shooters straught up told us why they did it. So. I don't know, maybe if we take away the reason they did it then people wouldn't have a reason to do it anymore?

Like maybe, address the ridiculous bullying problems multiple shooters have said drove them to act in "revenge"? Maybe something like that. But okay—what if the shooter's reason isn't something that should be listened to? What if they're just racist or something, like multiple have been? Fair. So how would you take away racist shooters' reasons to be shooters? Well, take away why they're racist.

Obviously not simple, but you have to start somewhere. If a shooter leaves (for example) a list of people who influenced them to adopt or act on racist beliefs, then maybe we should look into whether those people actually promote blatant racism on large media platforms. And if they do, maybe we should maybe tell them to not do that. Or make it have some sort of consequence if more than 1 shooter specifically cites you as their inspiration? Something. Anyway.

But that's just a couple places to start, based on some shooters, not all. Still, probably would be more effective at specifically decreasing shootings than just focusing on mental health. Because shooters don't typically say they did it just because they were mentally unwell. And painting mental illness as the cause of shootings is bad, because that is something people have. It isn't like racism or bullying, which people do (and shouldn't). It's something you just have. And it's already stigmatized and neglected in society.

Associating mental problems with shooters—just like associating it with any criminal or violent behavior as it has been multiple times in the past—doesn't help people who have mental health problems and doesn't help stop crime or violence.

Telekinetic-Potato · Accepted Answer

You people all need to get over yourselves with this gun debate bs.

No kid is shooting up a school because their parents gun just happens to be laying around somewhere.

Do you have any idea of how much anger needs to be bottled up inside you to actually want to violently murder basically the only people you've known since you were a toddler?

It's a failure of society on the kids.

There are a lot of things we could change like how children get segregated in schools based on things like academic performance and social skills.

Us adults are setting a bad example. The way we argue with and berate eachother over such stupid differences.

We hammer it into kids too. The concept of if you disagree with me, there is something wrong with you and I need to separate myself from you.

Well what if the kid is a good person just a little weird. You want to turn that kid into a school shooter, isolate them from everyone.

What happens to people when they get out of jail? They don't associate with normal society anymore. They associate with criminals and the people they spent their time with in jail for however many years.

Our brains work by recognizing patterns and relating them to our goals. A pattern could be: every time I walk down the hallway at school and I see a certain person with someone else, they're laughing and the other person talks to me less.

When a pattern is linked to a goal, an emotional response is generated. Not necessarily acted upon. And a person might feel uneasy, betrayed, angry, scared etc.

Think about how that pattern could manifest over time. Eventually that anger might be directed at anyone who reminds the person of the ones who isolated them.

The scary thing about a school shooting shouldn't be the guns, it should be the part about the kid picking up the gun and the parents saying "well, there's just something wrong with him... So anyway, the real issue here is access to guns" because that's the logic which keeps making the problem worse.

Aerissa_Jade · Accepted Answer

Take people seriously, no need to have red flag laws or other restrictions. No one just wakes up one day and thinks, I'm going to go kill someone.

It is a long slow process, mental health is great but society needs to do better too.

Stop bullying, especially online bullying. Sometimes people decide to end their life and kill themselves without hurting others, sometimes they decide to kill themselves while killing others.

People who want to kill themselves needs to be reduced, stop isolating people. Be more friendly, and listen.

There is never going to be a complete stop, but schools could also be made like forts, in fact here they started remodeling grade schools before I was born, one entrance, one exit. Other exists for fire emergencies, etc... but there was a problem back then with non custodial parents kidnapping kids from schools or strangers.

There is a reason that play grounds are fenced in these days, and the one entrance, one exit helps.

Inside there is a locked door that someone needs to buzz to unlock.

Some call it a prison, I call it a fort.

Need to stop the whole, I'm going to ruin your life thing that people do to cancel others too... when someone has nothing left, they are the most dangerous.

Someone who has a good job, a life, a family, etc... is far far less likely to go kill someone but when society takes everything away because they did something 20 years ago or said something that could be considered racist or homophobic, now what is that person going to do? They are now potentially extremely dangerous to the rest.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

We need to fund better mental health resources in schools, that are actually separate programs from the schools themselves.

A school guidance counselor, while some might be willing to listen to the students, there are others who just ignore the student concerns and will spread info around the school without the student’s consent.
Students should have easy access to a professional, accepting (non-biased) therapist or counselor, who is bound my medical confidentiality, and who they can easily contact.

We also need to educate students and teachers on healthy coping methods, ways to report incidents of harassment or bullying so that something is actually done, and the signs of someone struggling. This doesn’t have to be a class, it could be a school presentation that a guest speaker does, something like that.

There needs to be anonymous platforms for students to send in concerns as well, that are monitored, and that have further resources for students that are openly shown (online counseling, suicide hotlines, etc.). Any incidents that are immediately concerning or show signs of dangerous thoughts should be addressed immediately and not ignored.

WhiteSteve · Answer

Without a gun ban of some sort, at least on high-capacity magazines and high-velocity rifles that cause astronomically more devastating injuries than lower-power guns, I just don’t see a way out. Mental health is certainly a component, but I don’t think there’s a ton you can do ahead of time, because the person in question needs to volunteer themselves into getting help in most cases of adults. Children would need to manifest serious symptoms of mental illness to be referred. The mental health thing is just this vague, unsolvable issue meant to distract attention away from putting limitations on firearms. I hope to one day love ANYTHING as much as gun enthusiasts love guns. They will do ANYTHING to protect against any kind of limitations. Guns and violence are fetishized in this country in a way we don’t see anywhere else, that’s really the problem, our American culture. Bad things are always going to happen, we can’t stop them ahead of time, so maybe the only play is to make sure we aren’t in positions to cause so much havoc. A school shooting with a 9mm handgun will likely be far less devastating than a shooting with a semi-auto rifle.

I’m just really at a loss because we can make this better, but we have this idiotic culture where we live in fear of the next guy having a bigger gun than us. Why don’t we all just get Blackhawk helicopters or keep a missile silo on our property? Why stop with just guns?🤦‍♂️ So even the “good guys with a gun” are part of the overall problem, their reluctance to take a step backwards, because ultimately guns matter more to them than human life, you just can’t tell me otherwise.

Only alternate solution is we turn all schools into maximum security prisons with armed guards and locked buildings and chambers. Yet we were worried about how wearing a mask in school would affect children mentally🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

We’re so fucked.

Ricky_D · Answer

I think it all has to do with greed, lack of God, society making our kids week in more ways then one, and mental disorders.
Man is so hungry for wealth that it has change the way of living having no choice but to adapt. Causing both parents to work long hours and not spend time with our kids, teaching them morals, and respect for others. God's second greatest command is to love your neighbor as you would love yourself and we lack that as a society, selfishness ruling everything for the most part. There are some that love to help others too though.
Video games, internet, and media probably have the largest influence in the matter at hand. with no one actually stopping the production of these violent games some of which I have but I am only into it for the game of it and that is it.
I know that not everyone believes in God but beg everyone to believe in Him. With man loosing sight of His word and focusing on the money is driving people away. We all should learn about God and how He wants us to live It is all in the Bible and by no means do I think I am better of then anyone else!
The truth of the matter is I cursed him one day after not realizing the thinks He had done for me. Long story short, He changed my life that day Started speaking to me and showing me things. This was 16 years ago He told me to preach and I told Him I couldn't because I couldn't be a hypocrite and it has taken me this long to finally figure it out. The hardest part for the longest was believing that Jesus wasn't just Greek mythology. Having sacrificed my life made me realize there are people that would do what ever they can for you. God is real this I know because of the miracles he performed for me. What I am getting at is most of us are to busy to include Him in our life, things are going to be getting ugly before long including the mark of the beast which maybe sooner than we all think. We need to teach our kids Morals, Respect for others, respect life in general.
After seeing the things God showed me I began to pray for most and I am working on praying for some that had a negative impact on my life and millions of others lives.
The only reason I am saying these things is because it's what I should have been doing for ears but didn't know how but we as men are supposed to teach our families the right way of life With God being the center of it all. We are so caught up with just trying to live and the church hounding us for money has made it so we turned away from what our real purpose is and because all of these things, it's the cause of these shootings, the things that I have mentioned.
I wouldn't ask for money, all I ask is please believe me, we need to start living as God asks of us by reading our bibles and teaching our family of His love because the only way to the Father is through His son Jesus. The lamb, the only one worthy to break the seven seals. Once those are all broke it's too late.
I think the mark of the beast isn't too far away and we need to be ready. Trust me, you don't want to land up where God showed me, I wouldn't wish it on m worse enemy and it's not hell either!

abc3643 · Answer

Require a full MMPI test to be given and interpreted before issuing any license to own a lethal weapon.
Demand that the license be present at all gun sales.

www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-minnesota-multiphasic-personality-inventory-2795582

What Is the MMPI Test?
What to Know About the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

By Kendra Cherry Updated on November 18, 2022

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is the most widely used and researched clinical assessment tool utilized by mental health professionals to help diagnose mental health disorders.
...
Summary

The MMPI is the most frequently used and most extensively researched psychological assessment tool. It is used extensively to help doctors and therapists screen for and diagnose mental health conditions. The test involves completing a number of questions that correspond to different scales that correspond to certain mental health conditions. However, mental health professionals don't rely on the results alone when making a diagnosis.

MementoMori777 · Answer

How about schools come up with a new system that actually works and isn't treating children like prisoners, I would guarantee that if school wasn't such a torture for children, they wouldn't have mental breakdowns, for example what do teachers or staff really do when a child tells them they are being bullied, they surely don't help cause I've met several that say they didn't do anything, it seems like the mental torture these children go through in school is what leads to this horrible outcome, because it's a mental illness and unless they go through other traumas at home and come to school for more crap, I'm mean let's be honest, the school system plays a part in this because why do they shoot up schools out of everything they can shoot up?

exitseven · Answer

There are plenty of kids that are walking time bombs. I have seen some of them at the college level. the official policy at the college is to ignore it. If you get involved you might get fired. This has to change. Certain behaviors must be identified and students exhibiting these behaviors have to be interviewed by a shrink. A more proactive approach to bullying must be implemented. Online bullying must be included

ShadezMcgee · Answer

By reestablishing the nuclear family. Families need to be involved with each other's lives to support and be their for them for needs to be addressed.

Make mental health more serious and treatment for it accessible.

Restrict or outright ban social media access to kids until a certain age.

mstbooblover · Answer

First of all measures to be taken, even before forbidding fire arms, would be to put a hard end to the bully culture in schools and work places... Believe me there already would be far less mentally hurt people to even think about starting a mass shooting !

Concerning limiting the access to fire arms, sure this may help and should be considered, but keep in mind that someone really wanting a gun will find one, if not legally, then illegally. Meaning the first thing to do is thus taking away the wish to resort to violence.

mandyfire98 · Answer

I seriously believe the country as a whole needs to get serious and focus heavily on mental illness. There can be all kinds of reasons people will bring up about incidents like this but one thing is for sure, mental illness always plays a part somehow. Not just in mass shootings but in other areas as well.

Anpu23 · Answer

Stop glorifying the attacker in the media, no one cares why, no one wants to hear your manifesto, no one will remember who you are. Make it about the victims, make the attacker barely a footnote. There is no way to infamy here. No one will remember you and no one will care about you.

Filthy_Immigrant · Answer

most people are gonna hate me for saying this but I think we need to teach our children and also teacher #martialarts. we need more people like Commander Brown in our schools.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/L1EeyyZ8mn8 https://www.youtube.com/embed/a6D0mKFta7M

he doesn't just teach people how to defend themselves from physical attack but from more life threatning attacks as well such as knife, bats, and GUNS.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XqIynISpt7s

DJB72 · Answer

Ban the NRA from sponsoring candidates.

19 Countries with the Most School Shootings (total incidents Jan 2009-May 2018 - CNN):
United States — 288
Mexico — 8
South Africa — 6
Nigeria & Pakistan — 4
Afghanistan — 3
Brazil, Canada, France — 2
Azerbaijan, China, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kenya, Russia, & Turkey — 1

I live in South Africa. Half a mile from the most dangerous suburb in Cape Town. And to find just 6 school shootings took as long as America endured 288.

Only two Western countries have any at all.

None have the NRA

Anonymous · Answer

When werent the cops at this school? Why does Biden keep making jokes about the shooting? Why is Biden refusing to go to the scene and offer his condolences?

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

In order to do that we have to address the elephant in the room and that's some we as Americans don't seem to want to do. Instead we blame the gun manufacturers when we really need to address mental health cause let's face it you have to be pretty fucked up to go and shoot up a school full of kids

Exterminatore · Answer

Isn’t it funny we’ve had military grade “assault rifles” available to purchase by the general public since this country was founded but this has only been a problem since around 2000.

Why is that?

Because we’re producing narcissistic little monsters who think they’re the most important person in the world.

Isn’t it strange these mass shootings directly correlate with the moral decline of society.

I guess when you believe you evolved from a monkey and that there is no God and there for no eternal judgment whats to stop you?

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Sometimes warning signs are hard to spot because most mass shooters typically don't say or write something on social media that can alert someone of the potential mass shooting is about to occur.

At this point I don't think it can be stopped, it's been happening over a decade already here in the U. S. where random mass shootings happen around once every 2 to 3 months which is unbelievable if you actually think about it.

America desperately needs a hard shift in their current culture and collective values as a nation because right now America is completely lost in terms of their vaules.

America collectively at the core doesn't vaule family, community and friendships anymore and people in this country often act very suspicious of everyone and aren't friendly enough with each other which often times is what breads mass shooters who are often isolated and just become weirdos and do horrible things.

LickSmack · Answer

Here's my opinion, if I may:

What we desperately need are strong Father figures in these Children's lives.

A bigger grip on the dangers of drugs, and how available they are.

I think mental maturity plays a role too. (younger people have their minds all over the place)

Puberty creates a near insanity mindset! I remember being young and just being insanely miserable. But, I'm all grown up now and have REALLY calmed down.

I'll bet Bully issues creates a big issue in these sometimes.

coachTanthony · Answer

First and foremost have better protection in schools. Guards, bullet proof lockdown rooms, etc We just keep talking about gun laws as if the bad guys follow the law.

Jennz6 · Answer

Make schools like airports, one entrance with metal detectors and X-ray machines. I know it’s going to be expensive but our children are worth it, keep them safe and the teachers, staff included.

RockyHammock · Answer

Make cross school exchange programs a thing. Randomize the groups to avoid cliches and make sure the kids with low social skills are invited to attend. The most important part is having a mission that the kids can rally around and develop a separate social network in.

slatyb · Answer

There is something that other nations have done that was extremely effective -- they strictly regulated gun ownership.

Adaeva · Answer

Only by electing good politicians. Otherwise, there is nothing that will prevent school shooting because 99% are false flag operations to get the public to accept gun control. Those evil sociopaths would not hesitate to murder one million children if it would help accomplish their agenda.

Sixgunsound · Answer

The leaders of government schools are 1st and foremost politicians looking to their and their families interests before anyone else's. School, at least in the US, has very little to do with the actual children involved. I've suggested armed guards as a deterrent before, since my state banned teachers from volunteering to defend their students.

Anonymous · Answer

Republicans have blood on their hands. Children’s blood. All because of their refusal to pass gun safety laws due to their satanic allegiance to the NRA.

Fuentes · Answer

Stop telling kids with mental illness it's normal and fine & be your true self

ChillaxingLove · Answer

There should be at least 2 police officers at every school. The school that was hit had no cops around. You would think we would have cops guarding schools along time ago after all these shootings. At least at elementary schools

Alex8736 · Answer

it's a very gray area with a topic like this where the warning signs in Tennessee were only minutes before the school shooting happened with the final social media post

Paulychicagoluv · Answer

Metal detectors, seeing warning signs of frustration, and most importantly, parents need to do a better job of locking up their weapons

gorydetails · Answer

We need to stop protecting big pharma and truly investigate these psychoactive antidepressants. But we also know our government is bought and paid for by these companies, so nothing will ever be done.

Reorx · Answer

Recognize things like hazing are a problem. Everyone acts shocked when someone with nothing to lose snaps but never seriously questions why; If others make a persons life so miserable they are willing to die to seek retribution that speaks volumes about our society & how depraved it really is.

noohair · Answer

Humans are violent by nature. Put strange chemicals in the brain. Add in an entertainment industry that glorifies violence and and degrade the values of religion and you have what you created. People believe that violence is a realistic solution for solving problems. Life has no value.

ThomasDavid1989 · Answer

the recent shooter, was a trans girl. a guy that became a girl. and was a former student.

We don't need to ban guns, I just wish more COMMON SENSE gun laws were made. In tenn. where the shooting happened. You don't even have to register a gun

gag36627 · Answer

School should be aware of bullying. Also it would be better to implement some measures to check for weapons.. etc

Amur8711 · Answer

First thing is by hardening are schools, so they aren't soft targets.

Anonymous · Answer

Metal detectors on the door that discharge all ammo like the Tel Aviv bomb one

Anonymous · Answer

We can do a better job of identifying and acting on warning signs, but ultimately we need to address the societal problems that are causing people, especially males, to do these horrible things. That is the real challenge.

Anonymous · Answer

Stop conditioning men to feel that anger is the only acceptable emotion for them to show.

genericname85 · Answer

pretty simple answer actually. caunseling and community. these are the 2 key things everyone needs in their life that facilitate healthy social development and prevent shootings.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

I agree with you. Great question. Thanks for posting this.

OddBeMe · Answer

Probably can’t. But we can control their access to guns.

thatssuppy190 · Answer

To tell man to keep their emotions

How do we do a better job as a society, to find the warning signs that could prevent, school shootings?

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How do we do a better job as a society, to find the warning signs that could prevent, school shootings?

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