Columbine. Anniversaries are important – even the bad ones.

On April 20, 1999 two cowards made their way into history by murdering 12 students and a teacher. For most, this anniversary will pass unnoticed. For some, the Columbine anniversary will bring powerful memories of an awful tragedy.

For a very few, the Columbine anniversary will invoke grandiose ideations of violence and immortality that fuel school shooters.

While most attack anniversaries pass without “copy cat” attacks, it is important that school administrators pause to consider the situational awareness of their school.

While it may not be feasible to implement a threat assessment program prior to April 20th, there is plenty of time to ask teachers and counselors if there are any students exhibiting indicators that anyone a concern for their safety or the safety of others. Students exhibiting these indicators need help; whether or not they actually intend on carrying out an attack. Remember the cardinal rule in assessing potentially violent behavior: It is not if the person makes a threat, it is if they pose a threat.

Remember, the cowards at Columbine did not just snap. Theirs was a building process that culminated just one day after the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombings (April 19, 1995).

For those of us that will remember Columbine, let’s remember the victims

• Cassie Bernall
• Steve Curnow
• Corey DePooter
• Kelly Fleming
• Matt Kechter
• Daniel Mauser
• Daniel Rohrbough
• Rachel Scott
• Isaiah Shoels
• John Tomlin
• Lauren Townsend
• Kyle Velasquez
• Coach Dave Sanders

…and never again speak the names of their killers.

This post is provided by SafePlans (www.safeplans.com), an all-hazards preparedness solution including emergency plans, staff training, and detailed site mapping.

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