Spotting the Potential for School Shooting

by Richard C. Raynard, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

What do we do now that Congress has tabled gun control, except for the possibility of financial support for related mental health resources?

Fuming kid

It's no secret that community health centers have been eliminated for over 30 years. Still, assuming the lawmakers mean to focus on the prevention of school shootings, those who teach and advise students have the opportunity to be first-detectors (not first responders!) for students at risk of school shootings.

Here are some facts to contend with that do not often appear in the media.

Half of all homes have guns, some 300 million guns; half of these do not lock away their guns from children. A handgun is 43 times more likely to be use for murder or suicide than for self-defense (Berkowitz, 1993; Sege & Licenziato, 2001). Murder is the 4th leading cause of death among children.  Between 1980 and 1997 there were 20,000 murders (Meichenbaum,2001).

Now for more encouraging facts. For those of school age, the basics of violence have been known for some time. Meichenbaum (2001) alone lists over 900 references to different studies. (Please, Congress, don't just vote for further studies!)  Even more encouraging, there are many studies of gender differences, early development, bullying, consistency of aggression, school behavior, conduct problems, effective parenting, early trauma, and more - all relating to school violence.

Here is a partial list of early warnings for the risk of school shooting, from several sources:

Individual Factors
Having a detailed plan, blaming others for problems, threats of violence, cruelty to animals, violent writings or drawings (and more).

Family Influence:
Lack of parental supervision, victim of abuse or neglect, lack of warm family relations

School Behaviors:  
Poor social skills, rejected by peers, picked on, socially isolated, intolerant, antisocial peer group

Situational Factors:
Access to firearms, fascination for weapons, preoccupation with violent media

Attack Focus:
Loss of status, sudden decline in functioning, talks of violent intentions, a recent loss of relationship, rejection by others, organizing for attack, menacing others

Many of these signs are seen in the classroom, together with the observations of counselors. Parents, too, can be alerted to these signs. Of course it takes the motivation to take time, notice, and put these warnings together, as well as the determination to get the attention of the school and parents. And the treatment methods are also well known and available to therapists and counselors.

Can prevention of school violence may be within our grasp? If we are willing to see all these varied manifestations of anger, we may find it common sense to alert those who can help. Common sense, too, is legislation that funds this training and alerting within our schools.

About Dr. Raynard
Dr. Richard Raynard is a licensed clinical psychologist with 35 years experience resolving a broad range of emotional problems. As a cognitive-behavioral therapist who has specialized in anxiety and phobic disorders since 1980, he has spent the last 35 years fulfilling his life-long desire to explore and define the true purpose of emotions and how people can easily use emotions to create meaning and satisfaction in their lives. Dr. Raynard's series of books on emotions can be found on Amazon.com. His other books include Don't Panic, and Anxiety & Panic Medications.