"Six months of planning and a federal grant went into the simulation, starting with the gunman's alarming behavior to administrators and escalating to him firing shots and wounding students at the high school"
The following picture appeared alongside the article:
Two things strike me about the simulation.
Firstly, it's sad that school shootings have increased to such an extent that people need to prepare for such an eventuality (rather than wondering if lax gun laws and the alleged right to bear arms might contribute to this).
Secondly, it's interesting to note the "costume" they've put the gunman in: he's wearing explosives. As far as I am aware, no previous school shooter - usually disgruntled former pupils - has ever come armed with more than guns. What we have here is the blending of two primal American fears: shooters and suicide bombers. Apart from the fact that I very much doubt that Al Quaeda would target schools, I can't quite imagine that would-be bombers would waste their time arguing with school authorities first, as the article seems to suggest.
In case you are wondering how the story ends, the shooter was cleanly shot dead before he could blow up himself and his 25 hostages - just like in all the best Hollywood movies.
1 comment:
What a shocking item!You better prepare Anna and Tom before similar exercises reach their school. So far, I think that they were reasonably well-protected against such horror, but think what it would do to them. Anna flipped completely out in France, when she just saw a bit of simulated jousting. And Tom might start to hyperventilate. So tell them of the exercise and perhaps re-enact it in a milder form! What an environement. But years and years ago they already screened primary school kids in New Orleans against knives and guns.
But still: enjoy the winter!Mum
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