Over the past two weeks, the Peninsula has seen two serious threats against two different schools.
Last week, an alleged masked person with a gun prompted a four-hour lockdown at Bayside Middle School. This week, a student from Stelly’s Secondary was arrested for an Instagram video where they shot at a target with the caption “practicing for school.” With continual shootings in the United States, many people are resigned to what seems like a new norm, but as citizens, we are not powerless.
We in Canada have stricter gun laws than the U.S. Here, it is a privilege, not a right, to own one. To use guns for hunting or sport is one thing, but to use them to scare others is unacceptable. Using a paintball or airsoft gun to scare people is just as bad. Shooting can be fun under the right circumstances, but to use it as a power trip is not the right attitude.
While parents should absolutely talk to their children about these types of threats, parents should also listen to their children. Kids are growing up with the Internet and if they know their parents have an open mind and an open ear, they might be more willing to speak up if they see something amiss online or in-person. Social media is a new way for kids to build popularity and social capital. Understanding those motivations can allow parents to step in effectively when they need to.
We are fortunate in Canada to have far fewer school shootings, but when they do happen, they are almost always committed by men and boys, many of whom feel angry and isolated. Adults and peers should be on the lookout for this type of behaviour and intervene early to ensure they get the help they need. All young people, but particularly young men, should be encouraged to speak to someone they trust if they feel sad or lonely. Sharing your feelings is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of bravery and honesty to yourself and the people who care about you.
Hopefully, with these preventative measures, Canadian schools can be free from the culture of fear, the metal detectors and the security guards that exist in American schools.
If we want children to learn and play without worry as their parent’s generation did, we should build that world, and not sit idly by lamenting the loss of what once was.
The first and most important step is to talk about it — with thoughtfulness and care.