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The Uvalde School Shooting and the Nashville School Shooting were two tragic events that shook the core of our nation in the United States. Similarly, in both cases, innocent lives of children and adults were lost, and families were left to grieve the murder of their loved ones. However, when we examine the police response to these shootings, they were as different from nighttime to daytime.

Key Takeaways:

Comprehensive Approach: The post emphasizes that a multi-faceted approach is necessary to effectively address the issue of school shootings, combining better mental health support, responsible gun laws, and improved school security.
Mental Health Focus: There's a strong call for better mental health resources in schools, including early intervention and more accessible counseling services.
Legislative Action: The need for sensible gun control laws is highlighted, with a focus on background checks, waiting periods, and restricting access to firearms for individuals with a history of violence.

Uvalde Texas School Shooting

On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, a school shooting occurred at a Uvalde Elementary School in Texas, resulting in the deaths of 19 students and 2 teachers and severely injuring 17 others. 18-year-old Salvador Ramos wrecked his car in a retention pond as he entered the school property. He had just left the scene of a different murder he had committed when he shot his grandmother in the face. Ramos entered the school via a door left unlocked by a teacher by accident.

Ramos was geared with a tactical vest, AR-15, and lots of ammunition, among other weapons. With the advancement of camera quality, we can rewatch how the entire event plays out minute by minute. It's heartbreaking to watch, but observing how things occur is necessary to ensure we learn from any mistakes to create a better response next time. What we saw on the cameras was horrifying.

Uvalde School Shooting Initial Response

We watched first responders start looking for the shooter. As the police approach Ramos's location, we glimpse what's coming. When police initially approached the entrance to the double classroom Ramos was inside, Ramos started shooting. It originally appeared that the officers would go inside and get Ramos. That's not what happened.

Uvalde Fear

Radio calls then switched the situation from an active shooter to a barricaded subject. Each follows an entirely different set of protocols because a barricaded subject protocol doesn't have quite the urgency to save a life from immediate danger. Police yelled to the kids, "Yell if you need help." A scream from a frightened little girl sounded out, "Help!". Help never came. In fact, that little girl was killed right after yelling for help. Help was hiding behind the door and down the hall. When the kids got no response from the police, they went as far as smearing themselves with others' blood and pretending to be dead. The horror continued for over an hour before the United States Border Patrol finally went in and shot Ramos. Border Patrol ran straight past numerous local state and town police officers.

The third deadliest school shooting in United States History is marked with the stench of entrusted public officials being too frightened for their own lives to protect our kids. The response was so pathetic that parents attempted to run into the school to save their kids. One mother ran past the police and into the school and brought her child out. The excuses made afterward were abundant and frequent.

Nashville School Shooting

In contrast, the school shooting in Nashville at The Covenant School on Monday, March 27, 2023, was completely different. Aiden / Audrey Hale decided to go on a killing spree at her former school. This is the first mass shooting committed by a female, although she claims to be a male. This incident ended much quicker, and as a result, fewer people were killed. Three students and three teachers were killed in the disgusting act of pointless violence.

Nashville School Shooting Initial Response

Audrey shot the windows out of the front door and entered the building like something out of a movie. She then started searching for people to kill, but there weren't many around. Again, the security cameras allow us to recreate this entire scene. The six people who died were caught outside classrooms when the school went on lockdown almost instantly. Audrey was looking for more people on the second floor to slaughter when police entered the ground floor of the building. Three officers can be seen from security and body cameras systematically pulling up to the scene, immediately gearing up, and entering the building. It was a controlled response, but it was an urgent response. They entered the building and started searching and clearing classrooms. As they approached the stairs, they could hear gunshots upstairs. They didn't miss a step and ran up the stairs. They immediately came into contact with Aiden / Audrey and shot her dead. 14 minutes went by from when the 911 call was made until a bullet entered Audrey's body. Think about that.

Contrast Between the Two Shootings

This stark contrast comes from the people arriving on the scene first. They set the tone and start coordinating the response. They are the first to decide how a situation is handled. In Uvalde, we had police that were visibly fearful and not precisely in prime physical shape. In Nashville, we had brave and able officers. The question is why was there such a difference in the response. Why didn't the officers in Uvalde react like their kids were in that school while the officers in Nashville did? It was a completely different mindset, evident from all the footage taken from both scenes.

The Trust

In general, police and civilian relationships have degraded drastically in the last 10-15 years. Some of it is justifiable, and some of it is not. Officers are losing the public's confidence because of events like Uvalde that keep coming to the limelight. Respect is being damaged, and it's only possible to repair once stories like Nashville surface.

Every situation is different, especially as complex as these two school shootings. Everything from available training, gear, and talent contributes to emergency response.

The Media's Responsibility

Much of this is the media's fault for sensationalizing stories to get clicks or views with little moral judgment. However, with so many body cams and security cameras, we are advancing into a more open and factually based reality. Unfortunately, history is littered with examples of officers needing to be held accountable for their actions while responsibility evades them. Sadly we devote less enthusiasm to situations like the officer's response in Nashville. They deserve the same intensity, if not more, because they deliver without hesitation when the job calls for their best. That's how the relationship can be rebuilt. That's how trust can be restored.

An Understanding

We have to remove the politics from situations like this. This has nothing to do with gun laws; if you think it does, you're caught like a deer blinded by the headlights at night. I encourage you to show the same level of appreciation for officers like the ones in Nashville as you show concern and disgust for the police in Uvalde and elsewhere. Regardless of your politics, the officers in Nashville deserve credit for executing their duties and, therefore, their oath to perfection.

Most citizens could and would never run into an active shooter situation to save a stranger they've never met. We saw that in Uvalde when even trained emergency response teams failed to meet the need of the situation. You cannot teach bravery. It's something you can develop, but the roots of it come from genetics.

If we want better police performance, we must acknowledge when our officers perform their duties, like in Nashville. If we wish for trust and respect between civilians and police, we must give credit where its due. It's not because the police want that kind of attention. Most of them probably don't. We must show our appreciation because these selfless people volunteered freely to take on a career of dealing with the worst kinds of people in this world, and they do it every day. Their mental health has no choice but to get beat down regularly.

Living Up To The Oath

The other side is we have to hold officers accountable for their actions when they don't live up to their oath. We can't protect them. That's where the trust has eroded. Officers must be held accountable for their actions when they mess up. We must issue proper discipline and training when officers neglect to know the law correctly, act disrespectfully or tyrannically, or disregard the law. Officers need to know they will be held accountable and not guaranteed to be backed by the blue. We must also be able to have faith that our governing bodies will stop covering up evidence of poor police behavior.

Final Thought

While the police response is crucial in the immediate aftermath of a shooting, preventing these incidents from happening in the first place is the ultimate goal. These two incidents highlight the importance of practical training and protocols for responding to active shooter situations and adequate resources to ensure a swift and effective response.

Additionally, clear communication between law enforcement and schools will help to ensure the safety of students and staff members during an active shooter situation. We need to fix the problems that make our schools vulnerable and stop listening to the noise about gun control. We need more robust doors, vital protocols, metal detectors, and armed officers in every school. We must return the police force to an honorable designation in our communities. We also need to give the police a chance to do their job. In any case, I'll guarantee you that when we remove the politics, we'll get the genuine change we desire.

FAQ Section for Preventing School Shootings

1. What are the key differences in police response between Uvalde and Nashville school shootings?

The Nashville response was swift and coordinated, taking only 14 minutes to neutralize the threat, while the Uvalde response was delayed and ineffective, with officers hesitant to confront the shooter.

2. What are the main recommendations for preventing school shootings?

Recommendations include stronger school security measures, better training for law enforcement, effective communication protocols, and depoliticizing the issue to focus on practical solutions.

3. How can schools improve their preparedness for active shooter situations?

Schools can improve by conducting regular drills, ensuring secure entry points, employing school resource officers, and fostering close communication with local law enforcement.

4. What role does media coverage play in school shootings?

Media coverage can influence public perception and policy. Sensationalized reporting may create fear, while balanced coverage can help build trust and support for effective measures.

5. How can we restore trust between communities and law enforcement?

Trust can be restored by holding officers accountable, celebrating their successes, providing proper training and resources, and fostering transparent communication with the community.

The Real Solution to Preventing School Shootings