The shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on September 4, which claimed four lives and injured many others, was devastating. However, the way society responds to such incidents is disgraceful.
The Media:
They consistently shroud every story in political correctness, only highlighting racism if it involves a white majority targeting minorities. Recently, numerous mass murders have been committed by gender-confused criminals, yet the media deliberately avoids discussing the gender fueled mental health crises of these killers. Society cannot adequately address these issues when the press conceals essential facts.
School Administrators:
They must ensure that armed police officers are present to protect students, just as we protect politicians and money—with guns. Schools also need to enact strong anti-bullying policies. Instead of doing so, they often suspend both the victim and the bully after altercations. This is neither fair nor just. Schools should also be required to provide counseling for both the victim and perpetrator when bullying is suspected.
The Police:
Unfortunately, law enforcement has little influence on school security measures or personnel assignments. These decisions are made by politicians and the bureaucrats they appoint.
The Parents:
Parents bear ultimate responsibility for their children's behavior. However, many are ill-prepared for this role due to their own lack of maturity, education, or financial challenges.
The School Boards:
School boards nearly always keep parents in the dark by underreporting violence. Their solutions are always welcome as long as they don’t work. Board members are typically more interested in steering lucrative contracts to friends and family than in running the schools properly. They seek parental support only to gain approval for their disingenuous activities.
Now, let’s examine the recent Apalachee High School shooting. We have a gender-confused 14-year-old boy—his long, obviously dyed blonde, girly styled hair makes that clear. Yet the media ignores this. Many recent high-profile shootings have involved similarly troubled individuals with gender identity issues.
Charging a 14-year-old with capital crimes is shocking and harsh, given his age. This recalls the infamous case of George Junius Stinney Jr., who was executed at 14 in South Carolina, seated on phone books to fit into the adult-size electric chair. His case was later considered a wrongful conviction. The U.S. Supreme Court has since prohibited juveniles from receiving death sentences or life without parole.
Here, the young shooter and his father face the most severe charges under Georgia law. Colin Gray, the father, is accused of unlawfully providing the rifle used in the killings. He is also charged as a participant and accessory to the crimes.
As for the boy, his current mental state, previous threats to shoot up the school (which officials ignored), and likely being bullied will be significant factors for leniency at sentencing. He’s likely facing at least 25 years behind bars, while his father could receive an even harsher sentence.
Police failures have also played a part in past school shootings, like at Columbine and Uvalde. In both cases, officers failed to act while the massacres continued, significantly contributing to the death toll.
Society must learn to assign responsibility and force the media to tell the full story, not just the parts they choose. Public officials who act negligently or recklessly must be held fully accountable for their failures.
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