gun violence

CBS/AP October 29, 2018, 11:49 AM Student dies after being shot at North Carolina high school

Yet another senseless death has happened.  Student to student violence and access to a gun has created enormous loss and grief for one family as well as the family of the shooter, students, the school community and the entire nation.  While a single shooting doesn’t draw the same level of coverage as a mass shooting it is no less a profound loss.

The student who shot another did so because of a dispute.  Curriculum in all schools should include conflict resolution education along with self awareness, social emotional learning etc…I have spoken with more than a few teachers who tell me that these types of trainings & discussions are not frequent enough and bullying and other forms of violence are the norm rather than the exception.

“A North Carolina high school student shot and killed a fellow student during a fight in a crowded school hallway Monday, officials said, prompting a lockdown and generating an atmosphere of chaos and fear as dozens of parents rushed to the school to make sure their children were safe.

The police department in Matthews, about 12 miles southeast of Charlotte, said the student suspect was quickly taken into custody by a school resource officer after the shooting at Butler High School.

The male student victim was transported to a hospital and died there, police Capt. Stason Tyrrell said at a press conference. “It’s been an extremely tragic event for us here in Matthews for the Butler High School community,” Tyrrell said.

The shooting was believed to be an isolated incident, the police said on Facebook. Tyrrell didn’t release the victim’s age or identity but referred to the student as a male. Tyrrell said officials reviewed surveillance video, which showed the fight.

“We heard a bang and we seen them starting to fight,” Butler high school senior Lester Henline told CBS affiliate WBTV. “All of the sudden he pulled out a pistol and everybody started running.”

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox told WSOC-TV that the student who fired the gun was angry with another student, leading to the shooting.

“We’re incredibly sad, and we’re sorry for this family,” Wilcox said. “But we’re also sorry for the young person who thought the only way to solve this problem was with a gun.”

While police have not confirmed what kind of gun was used, Wilcox said: “I don’t know how a young person gets a handgun in the state of North Carolina.” He said the school system was reviewing its security procedures.

Before the lockdown was lifted, dozens of parents gathered outside of the school to await word on the students. Multiple parents told local television channels that they felt confused and unsure about where to meet with their children.

“A kid was shot, they want us to go to class,” the freshman, Joshua Cherry, is heard saying in the video. “Kids are crying. It’s a mess.”

When students were allowed to leave, the video showed students streaming out, with many crying and hugging parents.

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signs bill banning gun sales to people under 21, citing Parkland. The new law exempts law enforcement, members of the military and people with hunting licenses from the restriction. by Associated Press Sep.29.2018.

In light of the many shootings that are plaguing our country sensible measures to restrict certain types of fire arms, requiring background checks for criminal history, mental health testing, closing the gun show loophole and establishing mandatory waiting periods should be the norm rather than the exception.  America’s history is one littered with the use of guns for protection, crime, hunting etc…based on the Second Amendment to the Constitution.  Responsible gun ownership is a citizen’s right, but many argue that the ownership of assault rifles used in the military do not belong on the streets of America, whether in urban centers or rural America.

Your thoughts?

Image: California gun shop

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Most people under 21 won’t be able to buy guns in California starting next year under a law Gov. Jerry Brown announced signing Friday.

It will prevent people under 21 from buying rifles and other types of guns. State law already bans people under 21 from buying handguns.

The new law exempts law enforcement, members of the military and people with hunting licenses from the restriction.

It was one of dozens of bills Brown took action on.

Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino pointed to the shooting at a Florida high school earlier this year that killed 17 people as the reason for his bill banning gun sales and transfers to people under 21.

“I was determined to help California respond appropriately to the tragic events our country has recently faced on high school campuses,” Portantino said in a statement. “I feel it is imperative that California leads when Washington refuses to act.”

Brown also signed a bill to prohibit gun ownership for people who have been hospitalized or otherwise placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold for risk of hurting themselves or others twice in one year. That law would let those people ask a court every five years to return their guns.

He also signed a bill to ban people with certain domestic violence misdemeanors from owning guns for life.

In addition to the gun-related bills, he vetoed a measure that would have let bars in some cities serve alcohol until 4 a.m., which he said would result in more drunken driving.

Guns in Schools

A Nation’s Epidemic – Gun Violence

The recent epidemic of gun violence in our nation is causing all of us to reassess the safety of our schools and communities. The ways in which we cope with the inevitable stress and trauma that comes from this unpredictability is paramount and requires support, education and definitive action.  In addition, the demands of a changing world, the influence of pop culture, media violence, physical, emotional and sexual acting out as well as the pace of innovations in technology are creating the “perfect storm” that can lead our children adrift.  They are increasingly adopting a wide range of negative and destructive behaviors, which require our intervention, on-going support and love.

Our children are expressing low self-esteem, disrespect of adult intervention, avoidance of difficult tasks and accountability, mental illness and psychiatric disorders such as ADHD, anxiety, narcissism, depression, eating and sleeping disorders, suicide/cutting, oppositional behaviors and substance abuse.

Many children are not mastering the developmental milestones of maturation, which will continue to make their experience of the world around them more difficult.  As these deficits follow them into adulthood we become a society marked by chronologically aged adults driven by base needs and emotional immaturity.

As a presenter with over 25 years experience in the mental health, social services, criminal justice and education field I understand the concerns and stressors facing professionals, parents, students and educators. As adults it is our responsibility to nurture the relationship we share with our children and provide the safe haven, open dialog and respect all humans need to develop.  Considering the inevitable generation gap and our own responses to these stressors, reaching our kids has become even more difficult, but it doesn’t need to cause undue pressure or surrender.

We can commit to understanding our own personal history and how our experiences inform who we are, how we behave and ultimately how we intervene in our children’s lives.  We too are children in need of validation, respect, compassion, inclusion, and love.  We can create a foundation for effective relationships with our children and each other and minimize the sources of conflict and rejection of guidance and support.

Therein lies the opportunity for growth through crisis; teachable moments that form collaborative bonds that outlast the crisis and help to build strong foundations for the future.

I hope you will join me on our shared path of discovery, education and hope.

Wendy

KIDS on the Fringe Workshop

KIDS on the Fringe:
Guns, Kids and School-A Deadly Mix

 Our lives have become increasingly more challenging as our external world creates more demands.  The current barrage of media images often portray behavior and attitudes that are contrary to what we are trying to teach our children such as aggression, lying, greed and manipulation.  When pressured children and adults often respond in ways that can lead to mental health and behavioral issues in the home and school environment, which in turn can cause situations of “crisis” including gun violence. This workshop will examine the intersection of gun violence, suicide and adolescent mental health and the inevitable fallout of these powerfully traumatizing events.

Topics include:

  • Definitions of violence and current research on school bullying and violence
  • Physiological, emotional, mental, and social correlates to violent behavior
  • Child and adult responses to violence and traumatic events
  • Social and political responses to violence
  • Statistical data on the impact of violent programming, video games and modern technology on child development
  • Proactive strategies to safeguard our school communities