*These types of school shootings are rare and getting rarer. "School is still one of the safest places for young people."
*There's no discernible "copycat" effect: "...media attention is unlikely to lead otherwise law-abiding young people to commit school shootings." (Note that other researchers, like forensic psychologist Jack Levin, argues that there IS a copycat effect: "The inspiration, if there is one, usually comes from someone who shares important characteristics with the killer.")
*There's no "single cause of school shootings," whether it be "easy access to guns, violent video games, bullying and the use of prescription drugs." Instead, "attention should be paid to the cluster of factors that leads to school shootings."
*Related to the previous point, there's pretty much impossible to create "profiles" of school shooters. In fact, "profiling may increase feelings of persecution on the part of a potential shooter, increasing the likelihood of an attack."
*Many school shooters have "had their masculinity called into question through rejection by girls, being teased for being "gay" or possessing feminine physical characteristics," but they don't just "crack" and spontaneously start shooting.
*There's no simple explanation related to mental illness: "if we are to prevent school shootings, we need to move past individualistic explanations that rely on mental illness, and move toward a more comprehensive understanding of how society drives such individuals to kill."
Here's what we DO know about mass killers:
*"Over 90 percent of killers are male."
*"The killers are usually somewhere between the ages of 25 and 35."
*"They generally do not have previous histories of breaking the law in any serious way."
*"...they are not, on the whole, psychopaths."
*Guns "are usually the weapons of choice" in the killings.
*They are not "cool headed," but "aggrieved, hurt, and above all paranoid."
By the way, notice what is NOT in the above list of factors by experts on the subject? Being Republican or Democrat? Nope. Coming from another country? Nope. Being of a particular religion, ethnic group, race, etc? Nope. Exurbia? Nope. Here's a thought: why don't we all stick to what we actually KNOW and stop reaching to try and further a political agenda or whatever. It's not helpful, and it simply distracts from the real factors involved.
So what are we to do? Better mental health programs?
I have even turned a few students in to school administrators. One incident took place before the episode at Columbine. I was more or less ignored by administrators, but the guidance counselors took the situation seriously.
IF schools would use counselors for their intended purposes...to counsel...instead of as TESTING administrators, possibly children could be helped more often.
All teachers, administrators and staff should be trained to observe and look for changes in their students to prevent violence of any nature. Suicide prevention and sexual assault training should be a MUST at every school for all including students.
I applaud Nikki Giovanni and Lucinda Roy for their efforts!
Teachers make a difference in children's lives!