West Albany High School: Back to Guns, Back to Violence

Hours before Memorial Day is set to begin, West Albany High School(WAHS) is eerily silent. It could have easily been deathly silent.

Authorities in Albany are planning to charge 17 year old WAHS student, Grant Acord, with aggravated attempted murder. Acord is accused of planning a "mission-like" assault on the school, and Albany police have stated that homemade bombs were found in his bedroom, along with plans of the school and a detailed timeline for the attack.

People my age tend to lament the days of our youth, saying "These attacks at schools didn't happen when we were kids." Nevertheless, educating our own children about the closeness of deadly violence, can and will save lives.

This kid was caught via family awareness, possible social media posts and a 911 call, leaving us to think about the combined value of social media and social awareness.

The sprawling campus is located in west Albany, and is home to three schools, and various community centers. Playgrounds, stadiums, ballfields, and other activity resources are used every day of the year.

West Albany High School

 Sign in front of Memorial Middle School, part of the West Albany High School campus.

In a previous visit to this topic, I wrote of the mental health issues regarding many of these deadly incidents, and my belief remains the same: Teaching teachers, children, and parents to recognize mental health issues among themselves, and preparing them to respond, is crucial to safety in schools.
 

In Clackamas, Oregon, an attack at a local mall left Oregonians pondering solutions like never before. Kip Kinkel, the perpetrator of another deadly shooting 10 years prior at Springfield High School, is still fresh in the minds of residents here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Clackamas Mall shooter was behaving oddly, had sold all of his belongings, and was talking of a move to Hawaii. All of this, even with promising opportunities seemingly ahead. Intervention may have changed the outcome in Clackamas, we will never know. What we do know, is that being aware of your surroundings is paramount to your survival, no matter how dumb it sounds.

My general rules, that I try and "hammer home" to my children, are as follows:

1) If you, or anyone you know, seems to want to act out violence, contact a supervisory adult immediately.

2) A supervisory adult is anyone you respect and know can help in some way.

3) Be aware of mental health, and its "signs" and symptoms.

4) If confronted by violence, leave immediately if possible, and call 911, and then call me.

5) I love you, talk to me anytime.

Our future.