When something as horrific as a school shooting occurs in the USA, it’s become standard practice for the media to redirect your attention from the critical details – like those that show the government failing to protect children, once again.
Out of respect for the victims and their families, I won’t name their murderer in this article. In times like this, we need to focus on how to stop this from happening again, those who’ve been taken, and those left behind – not focus on the person who ruined so many lives.
On Monday, March 27th, emergency services were called at 10:13 (15:13 GMT). Within 11 minutes, the police arrived at The Covenant School and killed the shooter.[1]
Sadly, six victims – including three children – died at the scene: Katherine Koonce (60), Mike Hill (61), Cynthia Peak (61), Hallie Scruggs (9), Evelyn Dieckhaus (9), and William Kinney (9).
The media is branding the perpetrator as a “Trans Shooter” in the headlines before talking about the massacre at the Christian school. [2]
And while it’s believed the shooter identified as Transgender, it’s likely to be irrelevant when compared to the additional details released on the killer, but conveniently ignored by mainstream media.
The suspect was under “doctor’s care for an emotional disorder”, and while we’re all fully aware that not every mentally unwell person commits gun violence, it’s known that mental unwellness is an attribute of most shooters.
This being said, it is just the tip of the iceberg.
The shooter was armed with three guns, including a semi-automatic rifle, and police found additional weapons stashed at their parents’ house.
They had purchased a total of seven guns legally from five different stores across the city of Nashville, undetected by law enforcement, medical personnel, and family. [3]
Due to how they used the guns, the shooter likely had training – as they shot from a second-floor window and hit the windscreen of a police car some distance away.
At what point will the USA act on their failings to their children?
A gun registry, with an alert when multiple guns are purchased from multiple locations, would’ve made law enforcement aware of this person before they’d even stepped out of their door on Monday morning.
Proper medical support and control over the types of weapons civilians can purchase would’ve helped to keep these children and their teachers safe.
But this happened in Tennessee, which currently has no laws allowing police to seize weapons from suspects who’ve yet to commit a crime.
However, with many states in the USA revoking LGBTQ+ rights, it’s not surprising that they’re honing in on the shooter’s transgender identity as a scapegoat instead of looking at how it could’ve been prevented.
Images from March for Our Lives protests
Of course, the American Press is rigorously pushing that there have only been 15 mass school shootings since Columbine, in 1999. [4]
And, while this is true, it’s another redirection. A Mass School Shooting is qualified by a minimum of four deaths. But, there have been many, many more school shootings with under four deaths over the past twenty-four years. But, the media are spinning the yarn that it doesn’t happen that often.
Between January 2009 to May 2018 alone, there were 288 school shootings (for further context, the second country with the most school shootings during this time was Mexico – which had eight school shootings between 01/2009 – 05/2018). [5]
From September 1999 to July 2010, over 160 people (students and faculty) were killed in [Middle and High] school shootings in the USA. [6]
Looking back at all those killed – whether by children, unwell individuals, or just plain people – for nothing, how is the USA still sending families thoughts and prayers instead of taking action.
We’re not saying you shouldn’t have guns; we’re saying you have a gun problem and that ensuring safeguards are in place could prevented this from happening again.
President Biden said: “As a nation, we owe these families more than our prayers. We owe them action.” [7]
Focusing on the Why of a shooter, when you could be learning the How, is an insult to the people who lost their lives to the violence. Because the Why is never the same, but the How is.
Take Action – March For Our Lives [8]
Support the Ban of Assault Weapons by signing with March for Our Lives.[9]
For further information on H.R.1808, please see reference below. [10]
References:
[1]. Initial Media Release from Metropolitan Nashville Police Department: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/police/news/investigation-continuing-todays-active-shooter-murders-covenant-school
[2]. Shooter identified as being Transgender and under Doctor’s Care: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65106976
[3]. Shooter purchased seven guns legally: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-65087221
[4]. Associated Press stating only 15 school shootings have happened since Columbine in 1999: https://apnews.com/article/nashville-mass-school-shooting-database-columbine-uvalde-1c82749f7236752a2e621f402489b357
[5]. World Population Review stats on Mass Shootings at Schools between 01/2009 – 05/2018: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/school-shootings-by-country
[6]. Listings of (High and Middle) School Shootings and Death Count up to 2010: https://www.k12academics.com/school-shootings/history-school-shootings-united-states
[7]. President Biden – “As a nation, we owe these families more than our prayers. We owe them action.” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YTy50LgGvU
[8]. March For Our Lives: https://marchforourlives.com/
[9]. Take Action against Gun Violence – March For Our Lives: https://secure.everyaction.com/EylCx-IEu0WscVLhs3D_zg2?ms=web_home_content2
[10]. Ban of Assault Weapons – including SAW, LCAFD: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1808