It could happen anywhere About This Page:

[JoanneS]

I live in a quaint New England town; the setting of the play "Our Town". People don't lock their doors, everyone knows everyone, and there are lots of free community suppers where we can all gather and enjoy each other's company.

Two days ago, a teenager brought a loaded gun to class. Fortunately, a fellow student saw it in his bag and had the good sense to tell a teacher. Teacher told principal and principal called police. They were able to isolate the boy, talk to him, and retrieve the gun without incident. The boy was taken into custody. But it could have been so much worse.

I'm thankful the student came forward with the info, the teacher believed their story, and the police did their job.

At a parents meeting last night the principal gave us the facts and told us some of the precautions they will be taking, none of which include metal detectors, armed guards, or bag checks. Kids will all be put through a suicide prevention course, a team of students and teachers will look for anyone sitting alone at lunch and initiate a conversation, new clubs and activities will be welcomed, and bus drivers will be trained to identify and report any bullying or suspicious behavior. They decided not to identify the young person who reported the incident but instead the school will have a "thank you" pizza party and celebration next week for everyone.

We were told to stay vigilant and remember it "takes a village." It could happen anywhere.

[Her Dotness]

Sounds like a lovely place to live that truly retains the values of small-town America.

If only it were MUCH further south, I'd be tempted to move there, but I'm a lover of your three months of "darned poor sledding." New Hampshire is lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Basin, Flume and Old Man of the Mountain years ago as well as a night's stay in a lovely B&B in Littleton. Just gorgeous scenery.

And Wilder's Our Town was one of my favorite pieces of thoroughly American literature to teach. Even students who hated English class seemed to enjoy it. What fun!

[KMB733]

How scary!! I'm very happy that the student came forward and told someone about the gun.

[Luvsun]

Your town sounds wonderful and very much like the town I grew up in.
I hate the fact that I feel it is necessary to lock every thing up all of the time!
I am happy to know that there was a student brave enough to step up and tell someone about the gun!

[Kynna]

I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts similar to yours and when I was a kid back in the early 80's a kid brought a gun to school and it was being passed around all day by kids who were trying to help the guy who brought it to school cover his tracks. I remember kids being shocked at what a big deal it was because back then the idea of anyone actually using it was so far removed from our minds. It was just an object to us, not something that would kill our friends. We were shocked that the kids involved were suspended. Flash forward to now and no one would try to help this kid cover the fact that he had a gun. It is sad that our kids are growing up in fear for their safety but it's good that being a "snitch" is no longer uncool. Doing the right thing is always the cool thing to do.

[dutchdisneyfamily]

I'm glad to hear everything turned out well!

[HiddenMickey]

I like the way the school is handling the aftermath. Awesome!

[Cam22]

Very scary, but thank goodness it was settled very well.

[llgmommy2]

It can happen anywhere. Last year DD was riding the bus home and overheard a conversation about a girl bringing a gun to school. She called me at work soon as she got home and told me. I was on the phone with the school right away. The next day I kept her home not knowing what had come of my phone call. That morning the principal called me and said the child has been removed and will not return to school. It was frightening. The next days after I walked my high schooler into school until she said, it was okay she could go in alone. Prayers everyhting turns out okay for all.

[Teresa]

What a great response to a scary situation. Keeping it low key and yet addressing the situation is wonderful.
I grew up in the city and went to a large high school on a 72 acre campus, at least 10 buildings, and 4,000 students on average (there may have been 4,000 but by graduation day, there were usually 'only' about 400 in the class). We experienced multiple fights using knives, billy clubs, chains, forks, you name it, everything BUT guns. We would have never thought to actually take a gun to school - guns are used to kill. The fights in my HS (back in the early 80s) were to establish control, superiority, or just to get someone back for something. Things sure have changed everywhere.

[Huntermom]

Joanne,

I frequent your town on a regular basis, have worked with the schools and my former m-in-law was in the excellent geriatric psych unit at your local hospital. It is a lovely town.

But even the nicest and loveliest of places, there are still people with problems. One of my worst cases involved a family from your town. The father genuinely scared me and was later jailed much to my relief. The kids planned to leave the state as soon as they were adults. I think we all need to understand that poverty, psychiatric issues, and all kinds of dysfunction can be anywhere.

We also need to support out public servants in reaching out as well as protecting. No one wants a tragedy but it can happen too easily. I am still disturbed when I drive through CT and see the signs for Newtown and Sandy Hook.

I am a firm believer in gun control. Even hunters do not need assault weapons. A good friend of mine lost a child to an accidental shooting with a souvenir gun. The perpetrator was a brother "horsing around." He was an adult and it was many years after the first son's death that I met the family but they were all hurt forever and carried the loss with them.