The 2024-2025 school year is still young, but school shootings are already looming large in the national discussion. according to education weekSince July 31, nine accidents have occurred, resulting in 24 injuries and deaths. (This does not include the number of people killed or injured in 2023-2024.) Even more painful for students, parents and teachers, threaten There is also an increase in shootings that are largely unsubstantiated. USA Today According to reports, dozens of students (children) have been arrested across the country due to terrorist threats. Many students claimed the threat was nothing more than a joke.
Law enforcement appears to be taking no chances. Sheriff Mike Chitwood of Volusia County, Florida, has a unique approach to dealing with threats, even false ones: “Start [September 16]your little little angelwhen we take them into custody, we will begin to reveal his face and walk with them,” he said in a video posted to social media on September 13.
“This is absolutely out of control and it ends now,” he told the media at a press conference that day. “Moms and dads, do your job. Don’t let Sheriff Chitwood raise your kids. … We’re going to get you and make you look bad. I know some parents who want $11,000 each right now, Because someone pays the bill. He continues to threaten parents of teen abusers, demanding they pay tens of thousands of dollars for unnecessary investigations, and continues to threaten to share. their and names and photos with the media.
On September 16, “as promised,” Chitwood did release a photo and video of an 11-year-old boy’s criminal walk who had a written list of names and targets and shared it with other students A video shows officers seizing a range of airguns, pistols and fake ammunition as well as knives, swords and other weapons. He told police it was a joke but was still charged with a felony.
“These little fools thought it was funny,” Chitwood told the outlet. “Go talk to those parents [who have lost a loved one in a school shooting] Look how much fun this is. It’s not.
Chitwood’s frustration is understandable: At a press conference last week, he said Florida authorities had investigated more than 200 tips sent through the FortifyFL app. “All of this is considered false,” he said. However, even unfounded threats can consume law enforcement time and resources and can be traumatic for targeted communities.
But not everyone agrees with shame-based deterrence.
“Eleven-year-olds don’t make adult decisions. Mike Chitwood is an amoral, overzealous, callous person, the kind of person Grady Judd wants to be. “There’s a way around this, and No further harm will be done to the children. “
“I hate to be that person, but his ‘arsenal’ is a bunch of airsoft guns and mostly cheap-looking swords,” the account @LDS_Dems commented. “I’m glad his threats were taken seriously. But I would never support walking a child. However, I am very frustrated with his parents for sneaking him away.
“I know he made the threats,” @BobbieS12529218 admitted, “but…is this really something that should be treated like an adult and not get the treatment he clearly needs?”
Reaction to Chitwood’s approach, however, has been largely positive. Comments under the sheriff’s post on Twitter and Facebook overwhelmingly praised his tough stance on youth threats. Chitwood himself seems unlikely to change course anytime soon.
“I couldn’t say it more clearly: You’re not going to stand on a plane and scream hijack, you’re not going to go into a movie theater and shout fire, and you’re not going to go online and say you’re going to shoot up a school. That gets you Sent to jail,” he told the media. “So parents, get your kids in line or your checkbook will be hurt and your ego will be hurt. I guarantee it.
