Alloy.com

"A classmate threaten to bring a gun to school. What should I do?"

You Said:
"Last week, I forgot my history book in my locker, so my teacher sent me back to get it. While I was rummaging for it, I overheard a kid in the boy's bathroom talking about bringing a gun to school and shooting this guy who's been making fun of him. When he came out of the bathroom, I pretended that I wasn't listening, but he knew that I overheard him. I don't know what do -- I'm scared to tell on him, but I know it's dangerous to not do anything. What should I do?"

We Say:
We don't mean to sound like a P.S.A., but guns in school are totally unsafe and school shootings are a tragic reality. The truth is, in many cases, potential school shooters often tell someone of their plan before they act on it. Even if your classmate is bluffing about bringing a gun to school, the fact that he even claimed he would bring a gun to school is totally serious. He isn't only putting his enemy in potential jeopardy, but he's also endangering everyone at your school, including you. You need to tell an adult what you heard ASAP. Even if you're only reporting a rumor, it's important to get that information out there. Determining whether the threat is real or not is pretty heavy, and you shouldn't be the one to have to make it. When you do talk to your parents, school counselor, or teacher, make sure to give as many details as you can, including the suspect's name. Be sure to mention what the context of the situation was and why you think your classmate might bring a gun to school (ie - Is he bullied? How do other kids at school treat him?) . If you're still nervous about approaching an adult about it, you can request that your name be confidential, or you can report the incident to the police. Whatever you do, it's important to tell an adult in authority everything you know, before it's too late. Think about what someone speaking up would have done in the case of Columbine, Red Lake High School, or Weston High School. With your help, other school massacres can be stopped before they start.

You Say!