At a loss in how to deal with school shootings

Darlene Vann / Headline Surfer®By DARLENE VANN
Musings
Headline Surfer

EDGEWATER, Fla. -- Since the school shooting in Broward County on Valentine's Day in which 17 lives were taken away, I have been trying to think of what can or should be done to stop these senseless things from happening, but I am at a loss.

I don’t want to see the schools with metal detectors and police at every door and that should not be necessary. I don’t believe we need to take away people’s guns. We do need some way to stop the ease of obtaining them, though. Even that won’t completely stop someone getting a gun if they are determined.

Just like drugs: if you can’t get them legally people go to the dark web or sellers on the streets who don’t ask any questions.

As for mental health, I do believe we are deficient in how we handle those issues and have been for a long time. Often those with the issues do not recognize them in themselves. But as with this shooter, others did notice, but no one told a person who would listen and do something.

The fact that many people did report him, but he still managed to do this horrible deed makes it obvious that those reports weren’t taken seriously enough.

Nikolas Cruz mug shot / Headline SurferAs for mental health, I do believe we are deficient in how we handle those issues and have been for a long time. Often those with the issues do not recognize them in themselves.

But as with this shooter, Nikolas Cruz, shown here in his Broward County mugshot where he's being hewld on 17 counts of murder, others did notice, but no one told a person who would listen and do something.

The fact that many people did report him, but he still managed to do this horrible deed makes it obvious that those reports weren’t taken seriously enough.

I’m glad I am not responsible for solving this problem. I am stumped; don’t wish to live in a police state either.

Other countries don’t seem to have these problems so maybe we should have someone go and do surveys to see how they manage their school security.

That’s all I can come up with right now. Otherwise, I'm as lost as the next person in trying to end this senseless bloodshed.