"North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students"

Kamer · 04-30-2006, 07:11 AM

This gave me quite a scare since I live nearby. Just sharing this with you all.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192981,00.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192777,00.html

Quote:

North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students
Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Six Middle Schoolers Arrested After Planning Massacre
NORTH POLE, Alaska — The arrests of six boys accused of planning a campus massacre has gripped this small Alaska town with an unsettling epiphany — if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.

"We thought we were in a bubble," said Cindy Slingerland as she waited outside the school with her husband, Mark, for their 13-year-old daughter, Jenny. "Nothing ever happens here. This is by far the biggest scare for my children."

The town of North Pole, dubbed Santa Claus' headquarters, has a main road called Santa Claus Lane where light poles are curved and striped like candy canes. Main attractions include Santa Claus House, a Christmas theme store open year round. The town is also a destination for thousands of letters sent to Santa each Christmas.

The seventh-graders, all around 13 years old, are suspected of scheming to take guns and knives to the town's middle school and kill students they felt picked on them as well as teachers they did not like. Police say the boys planned to knock out the school's power and telephone systems, giving them time for the slayings, then escape from the town of 1,600 about 14 miles (23 kilometers) southeast of Fairbanks.

The six were arrested Saturday and could face charges of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities found weapons in the boys' homes, said Mayor Jeff Jacobson.

"I was shocked and then heartbroken," Jacobson said during a lunch break in his classroom Monday. "I saw one of them led away in handcuffs, this little boy."

North Pole parents and students were not alone in their fear this week.

In three other small American towns — in Kansas, Washington and Mississippi — residents were feeling the same gut-wrenching blow as children were arrested in suspect plots on their classmates and teachers.

Five boys in Riverton, Kansas, were charged Monday with threatening to carry out a shooting spree at their high school on the seventh anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre last week.

In Mississippi, two Pearl Junior High School students were arrested Sunday night and charged with making threatening statements about classmates on the popular teen Web site Xanga and warning students not to go to school on May 1.

In Puyallup, Washington, a 16-year-old was charged Monday in an alleged plot to shoot people at his high school. In an instant message to a fellow student, the teen wrote about an attack and suicide "to finally go out in a blaze of hatred and fury, sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said.

In at least three of the alleged plots, authorities found weapons and ammunition in suspects' homes. In Washington, the search of Brian Michael Evans' home turned up a homemade bomb and a CD with instructions for making explosives, as well, Troyer said.

For Alaskans, the arrests in North Pole jogged memories of another school plot that succeeded.

In 1997, Evan Ramsey opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun as students assembled in a high school lobby, killing a principal and 16-year-old classmate in Bethel, a southwestern Alaska town of 6,000. Ramsey, then 16, is now serving a 198-year prison term.

In North Pole, nine other students, including at least one girl, were suspended for withholding information. They will not be allowed to return to school until authorities have completed their investigation.

Authorities have said a child told a parent that rumors were circulating about a plot, and the parent went to police.

School officials on Monday tried to assure parents their children were safe, stressing that no weapons were ever found on campus or in the nearby woods. A police officer patrolled the halls and extra counselors were brought in to help students.

"It has been surprisingly calm," said Wayne Gerke, an assistant superintendent with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

Adults, perhaps, are having a tougher time shaking the anxiety than their children. The students initially reacted with fear, but by Monday streamed out of the school entrance, giggling and elbowing each other.

"I feel fine, I feel safe," 14-year-old Cabe Harris said as he climbed into the front seat next to his mother Jo Harris. "This is a nice place."

Im glad im home-schooled.

If this belongs in the sandbox thread, then please move it.

ScratchMonkey · 04-30-2006, 02:47 PM

When I was in public school long ago, it felt like a prison with all the bullies running free. It's a wonder this kind of thing doesn't happen more often.

Karkianman101 · 04-30-2006, 05:13 PM

These things are still tragedies, yet the only thing that has increased is the coverage of youth violence, and not youth violence itself.

http://www.fatal1ty.com/news/?type=PR&ID=26

TychoCelchuuu · 04-30-2006, 06:29 PM

Also, the availability of guns has gone up, just by virtue of there being more around. Couple that with hysterical media coverage and an increasing population (which necessitates and increasing number of crazy people) and you're bound to get wacky peopl.

**CingularDuality** · 04-30-2006, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TychoCelchuuu

Also, the availability of guns has gone up, just by virtue of there being more around.

You have to keep population growth in mind when talking about the availability of guns due to there being more of them. And are you sure that there are more guns around now than there were 30 years ago?

**Rincewind** · 04-30-2006, 10:42 PM

Unlike people, guns don't die

**CingularDuality** · 04-30-2006, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rincewind

Unlike people, guns don't die

No, they just rust to pieces, are incinerated or steamrolled in gun turn-ins/buybacks, or are otherwise disposed of... Guns don't procreate, either.

**Rincewind** · 04-30-2006, 11:02 PM

You havn't seen my guns....

**CingularDuality** · 04-30-2006, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rincewind

You havn't seen my guns....

That gives new meaning to the concept of "gun porn".

ScratchMonkey · 05-01-2006, 07:16 AM

People who own guns are social pariahs in the greater American culture. Small wonder that those who buy one for personal protection dump it in a drawer after purchase and never look at it again. They don't want to be accused of being a lunatic gun nut by their peers. They don't get training and don't learn the important safety rules (eg. Cooper's 3 laws) and if they have children there will probably be an accident or an "incident" like the one this thread starts with, because the kids will never learn those rules, either.

Those of us who've grown up in a culture of responsible gun ownership must make up for this kind of owner by harping on the importance of safety training, even for those who don't own a gun.

**CingularDuality** · 05-01-2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScratchMonkey

People who own guns are social pariahs in the greater American culture.

I don't think so. I think that's an urban phenomenon.

I also think that having a disturbed child going on a shooting rampage is a completely separate issue from familiarity and safety training.

**TheFeniX** · 05-01-2006, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScratchMonkey

People who own guns are social pariahs in the greater American culture.

Eh? Maybe in California. I tell people I own 11 firearms and I usually either get "Damn you must love to shoot" or "Only 11?"

ScratchMonkey · 05-02-2006, 12:37 PM

California and urban places (eg. NYC, DC) makes sense. But that's where the media are. And academia.

I perceive TG as something of an island of sanity in a sea of hostility towards personal gun ownership.

Adrielle · 05-02-2006, 11:15 PM

I remember when I was 6 years old, I was lying in my grandparent's bed watching TV and I felt uncomfortable and couldn't figure out why. So I got up and lifted the matress up a tiny bit, enough to see my grandfather's handgun. Now, when I think of today's youth and this plays out in my head, it sounds like the beginning to a very ... messy PSA.

I put the matress down and the first thing I did was go tell my grandfather about what had happened and how I found the gun and didn't touch it. He was so proud because I did exactly what he had been teaching me since I was old enough to walk. He's a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig advocate for the second amendment and for gun safety. And, I think that learning gun safety so young was a HUGE contributor toward my attitude of guns now. I respect their power. And I think if you respect the power that something like that has, it makes you less likely to even consider it an option for "dealing with personal problems". Whereas ignorance about guns, or exposure based simply on entertainment media, may lead people to believe that guns are an acceptable way to deal with personal vendettas or they may not develop the little bit of fear that helps you earn the respect of firearms. I think that parents should definitely include 'gun safety' on their list of things to teach their kids before they even hit age 5.

It may sound extreme, but I know from personal experience that it's made a difference in my own personal attitude.

ScratchMonkey · 05-03-2006, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrielle

I think that parents should definitely include 'gun safety' on their list of things to teach their kids before they even hit age 5.

See what I mean about TG being an island of sanity?

04-30-2006, 02:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
ScratchMonkey Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Pablo, California Posts: 4,278	Re: "North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students" When I was in public school long ago, it felt like a prison with all the bullies running free. It's a wonder this kind of thing doesn't happen more often. __________________

04-30-2006, 05:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Karkianman101 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Lansing Age: 20 Posts: 1,546	Re: "North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students" These things are still tragedies, yet the only thing that has increased is the coverage of youth violence, and not youth violence itself. http://www.fatal1ty.com/news/?type=PR&ID=26

04-30-2006, 06:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
TychoCelchuuu Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Age: 19 Posts: 1,776	Re: "North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students" Also, the availability of guns has gone up, just by virtue of there being more around. Couple that with hysterical media coverage and an increasing population (which necessitates and increasing number of crazy people) and you're bound to get wacky peopl. __________________ \|TG-Irr\|TychoCelchuuu

04-30-2006, 10:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,816	Re: "North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students" Unlike people, guns don't die __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

04-30-2006, 11:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,816	Re: "North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students" You havn't seen my guns.... __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

05-01-2006, 07:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
ScratchMonkey Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Pablo, California Posts: 4,278	Re: "North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students" People who own guns are social pariahs in the greater American culture. Small wonder that those who buy one for personal protection dump it in a drawer after purchase and never look at it again. They don't want to be accused of being a lunatic gun nut by their peers. They don't get training and don't learn the important safety rules (eg. Cooper's 3 laws) and if they have children there will probably be an accident or an "incident" like the one this thread starts with, because the kids will never learn those rules, either. Those of us who've grown up in a culture of responsible gun ownership must make up for this kind of owner by harping on the importance of safety training, even for those who don't own a gun. __________________

05-02-2006, 12:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
ScratchMonkey Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Pablo, California Posts: 4,278	Re: "North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students" California and urban places (eg. NYC, DC) makes sense. But that's where the media are. And academia. I perceive TG as something of an island of sanity in a sea of hostility towards personal gun ownership. __________________

05-02-2006, 11:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
Adrielle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Spencer, NY Age: 23 Posts: 745	Re: "North Pole Unnerved by Alleged Plot to Kill Students" I remember when I was 6 years old, I was lying in my grandparent's bed watching TV and I felt uncomfortable and couldn't figure out why. So I got up and lifted the matress up a tiny bit, enough to see my grandfather's handgun. Now, when I think of today's youth and this plays out in my head, it sounds like the beginning to a very ... messy PSA. I put the matress down and the first thing I did was go tell my grandfather about what had happened and how I found the gun and didn't touch it. He was so proud because I did exactly what he had been teaching me since I was old enough to walk. He's a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig advocate for the second amendment and for gun safety. And, I think that learning gun safety so young was a HUGE contributor toward my attitude of guns now. I respect their power. And I think if you respect the power that something like that has, it makes you less likely to even consider it an option for "dealing with personal problems". Whereas ignorance about guns, or exposure based simply on entertainment media, may lead people to believe that guns are an acceptable way to deal with personal vendettas or they may not develop the little bit of fear that helps you earn the respect of firearms. I think that parents should definitely include 'gun safety' on their list of things to teach their kids before they even hit age 5. It may sound extreme, but I know from personal experience that it's made a difference in my own personal attitude. __________________

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