It’s only been three days but officials in Sparks, Nevada have been slow to release any further information about what may have been the motive behind the October 22^nd shootings, siting the ongoing investigation.  Major publications have submitted formal public record requests for the release of the shooters name, saying this information could possibly aid in the understanding of why this 12 year old opened fire on his classmates, a teacher and then took his own life.

“Under Nevada law, it is illegal to allow anyone under 18 to handle a gun without supervision. The offense rises to a felony if there was substantial risk the child would use the firearm to commit a violent act. However, the law doesn’t apply if the gun was stored securely or if the child obtained the weapon unlawfully.”  via The Associated Press.

Police have said they are looking into the parents, other adults & how the boy managed to obtain the gun unnoticed.  No word as to whether or not his parents could be charged.  District Attorney Richard Gammick said he is waiting for the police to present their case to him before deciding if charges will be filed and against whom.

I’m having a lot of trouble with this.  While I understand that it takes time to determine exactly what happened, and let’s be honest, we may never know unless the boy left behind a note, I still don’t understand where the parents are in all of this.  If your child is acting in an out of the norm way, why didn’t you notice?  I’ve said this before, it’s not a phase.  And I’ll tell you why.

Some sources, mainly other students, are claiming this boy was bullied.  And that an anti-bullying  video shown to these 12 year old’s depicts a child retaliating by bringing a gun to school.  Don’t get me started!!  Why would anyone show this video, or even make this video, in light of all the school shootings, especially to impressionable teens? As the mother of a child who was bullied in middle school, I can address this issue.  Trust me, if you are active in your child’s life, and I don’t mean social life, I mean their LIFE, you notice!!  Their demeanor completely changes.  They become withdrawn, they lash out at you & other siblings, they struggle to tell someone because the conflict inside is so great due to peer pressure.  “Do I tell Mom & Dad?”, “Do I tell a teacher about the kids?”, Will they target me even further if I rat them out?”  A 12 year old cannot figure out these facts for himself.  In my case, aside from the fact that the kids in question made a huge mistake by actually calling my daughter specific names, from the bus window, while she was in the car…with me, she was being cyber-bullied.  The flood gates opened and I immediately contacted school officials.  We met with the Resource Officer ( a policeman assigned to the school) & the principal and WE ratted out those kids.  Their parents were called in and the bullying stopped.  Don’t be afraid to take a stand.  And show your children the right way to stand up for themselves.  There should never be a time where a child needs to take a weapon to prove a point….and then take his or her own life to solidify that point.  To say that I am heartbroken over all of this would be the understatement of the year.

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