School Threats: Kids going off the rails
Like local law enforcement doesn’t already have enough on its plate — drunk drivers, drunk drivers texting, drunk drivers snorting some meth at the stop light, domestic violence, road rage, sexual assault, public sex in a downtown bar, shootings, stabbings — and yet, Hidalgo County, AKA, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA, is still rated one of the safest places in the country. Go figure.
Which must just go to show, how messed up is the rest of the country?
Pretty messed up, truth be told, especially if you do a quick online search of recent threats made against schools, both across the country, state, and RGV. The threats are definitely on the rise, and even though most are hollow threats, the man hours it takes for law enforcement to investigate them eats up both time and money.
Then there is the stark reality of it all — the shooters really intent on death and destruction typically don’t advertise it ahead of time. Stealth is what they seek. Typically loners, they seek the publicity post-shooting or are willing to die in the act. Still, to not investigate all threats made against schools would be hard to explain if indeed a shooting occurred.
The rising number of school threats was already an issue before the Sept. 4 shooting at a Georgia High School, which killed two teachers and two students, but the question is, how to stop them?
“They all take time to investigate,” said Hidalgo County DA “Terry” Palacios.
“With what’s going on in the country, every threat has to be taken seriously. That not only disrupts our teachers, but the parents get upset, the students are affected, and it causes chaos.”
Another problem on the rise — the threats made against schools is now coming from outside the area.
For example, this past Saturday, a 14-year-old who lives in the Kansas City area was arrested for posting threats on social media targeting school campuses in both Edinburg and McAllen.
That leaves local criminal investigators on speed dial with KC law enforcement to determine what charges the teen might face.
Junior’s got to go upstairs to his bedroom, get online, and post a threat while mom and dad, maybe just mom, is in the living room, watching TV, completely clueless that her young teen has just committed a felony. From the relatively safe confines of his own bedroom, no less.
Then comes the police knock on the door.
DA Palacios said it’s a challenge for his office to keep up with the school threats, rattling them right off his fingers, one right after another. Recent threats include McAllen, Alamo, Weslaco, Mission, Donna, Progreso; districts targeted outside Hidalgo County include Brownsville, Mercedes, Rio Grande City.
By the end of last week, approximately 10 people across the RGV had been arrested within the past several weeks; all of whom face a possible charge of a terroristic threat, considered a felony in Texas, which may include a prison sentence of between two and 10 years.
“The last thing these kids need is a felony record when they’re just starting out,” said Palacios. “For doing something that’s just stupid.”
However, said Palacios, if a teen is really looking at guns with the idea of actually doing something, “those people are going to be made an example of. I guarantee you that.”
Even if someone reposts an intended threat against a school, they’re not off the hook, said Palacios.
“The good thing is, we have all our federal partners, like the FBI, you know, all these federal agents who are very good at finding out where you’re at.”
Why So Many?
School threats have been around forever. In the old days, people would use a phone to call in a bomb threat. Now it’s an online post, which may or may not make mention of an AR-15.
Why, though, are these threats on the increase?
According to both The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and The American Psychological Association (APA), the reasons are varied:
Social Media: Social media platforms are now part of everyday life for most people, young and old. These platforms offer a means of anonymous communication, making it easier for students to make threats without fear of immediate consequences. Additionally, the viral nature of social media can amplify threats.
Mental Health Challenges: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues among young people, including anxiety, depression, and loneliness, according to the mental health experts. These challenges can make students more susceptible to impulsive behavior, including making threats. Furthermore, untreated mental health conditions can contribute to feelings of anger, frustration, and isolation, which may lead to harmful actions. (Side note: Texas spends so little on mental health, it always ranks near the bottom of state expenditures on this particular health issue.)
School Climate, Culture: A negative school climate, characterized by bullying, harassment, and discrimination, can contribute to feelings of alienation and resentment among students. When students feel unsafe or unsupported, they may resort to threats as a way to express their frustration or seek attention.
Copycat Behavior: The media's coverage of school shootings and other acts of violence can have a significant impact on teens. In some cases, students may make threats as a way to emulate or seek attention from high-profile incidents. This “copycat behavior” can contribute to a culture of fear and violence in schools.
Support and Resources: Many schools and communities lack the necessary resources to address mental health issues, bullying, and other factors that can contribute to school threats. When students don’t have access to adequate support, they often feel isolated and hopeless, leading to harmful behaviors.
So what’s the answer?