On October 16, 2006 the
Ocean County Commission on Exploited
& Missing Children held it's Annual Conference.
This year the Commission hosted a conference entitled:
How Homeland Security Keeps Our Children Safe at School
This conference dealt with issues concerning the safety of our children,
particularly within the school system.
Our Keynote speakers for the evening were from the
Ocean
County Sheriff’s Department, Office of Emergency Management, Domestic
Preparedness Planner, Bob Butkus and Emergency Management Planner Charlie
Webster
They described some high profile and recent acts of school terrorism, along
with preventive measures and the 10 myths about school shootings.
The 10 Myths About School Shootings:
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He didn't fit the profile.
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There is no profile.
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Stereotypes are not useful in preventing attacks.
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Attackers have been of all races and family situations with academic
achievement from failing to excellent.
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He just snapped.
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Attackers to not just snap.
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Incidents progress from forming an idea, to planning the attack to gathering
weapons.
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Process can happen quickly.
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No one knew.
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In most cases someone else knew.
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Most attackers engaged in some behavior prior to the incident that causes
concern or indicates a need for help.
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Information is rarely carried forward before an incident.
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He hadn't threatened anyone.
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Too much emphasis placed on threats.
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Most attackers did not threaten and most threateners did not attack.
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He was a loner.
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In today's multimedia, internet accessible environment is anyone truly a loner?
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He was crazy.
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One third of the attackers had been seen be a mental health professional and
only on fifth had been diagnoses with a mental health disorder.
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Most attackers show a history of suicidal attempts or feeling deep depression.
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If only we had a SWAT team or metal detector.
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Despite prompt law enforcement response, most shootings are over before a team
can arrive.
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Metal detectors have not deterred attackers committed to killing themselves and
others.
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He'd never touched a gun.
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Attackers had access to guns and used them before.
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Most attackers acquired their guns from home.
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We did everything we could to help him.
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Many attackers felt bullied or persecuted by others before the attack and were
unsuccessful in getting others to intervene.
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Administrators and teachers were targeted due to this.
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School violence is rampant.
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12-20 homicides a year occurring in >100,000 schools.
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Less common than gang-related homicides of children.