Schools Deal With Copycat Threats

(AP)  A threat posted on an online blog worried Kalamazoo Valley Community College officials enough Thursday that they shut down the campus for the rest of the week, authorities said.

The threat followed a week of lockdowns and evacuations at schools around the country in the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting massacre.

Shortly before noon Thursday, police took a male suspect into custody who they believe is responsible for Internet posting, Kalamazoo County sheriff's Lt. Terry VanStreain said.

He said the first message appeared at 5:02 p.m. Wednesday and read: "My friends and I were sitting around yesterday discussing how we don't have any killers in our generation. Then I heard about this (expletive). Thank you, God, for answering my prayers."

A second message, posted before dawn Thursday, read: "Our government kills that many people every day. ... The only reason you give a damn is because it's on CNN."

Another threat at the University of Minnesota had forced the evacuation of eight buildings on Wednesday, but they were open again Thursday after several hours of searching, university police Chief Greg Hestness said. He said officers found nothing unusual after investigating the bomb threat.

Classes also were canceled Thursday at Catholic High School near Ann Arbor, Mich., after police found the words "Virginia Tech today" written on a bathroom wall. Washtenaw County Sheriff Daniel Minzey said police had identified the student or students responsible and would seek criminal charges.

In St. Augustine, Fla., a 14-year-old high school student was charged with a felony for threatening in an e-mail between friends to top the Virginia Tech massacre by killing 100 people, St. Johns County sheriff's spokesman Chuck Mulligan said Thursday. He said the boy had made similar threats before and was being held at a juvenile detention center.

[drew30319-2009]

The issue isn't about being "bullied."

Who *hasn't* been bullied at some point in their lives?

I certainly had my share of it as a kid. I was a little guy with a big mouth and paid for it. Big deal. I managed. Thickened my skin a bit. That's part and parcel of being a kid.

But I also was raised with a moral foundation that instilled in me that it was unacceptable to kill people because they upset me. It was unacceptable to take the "easy way out." It was unacceptable to retreat into myself so far that I drifted along through life in a fantasy world where everybody was deserving of my incoherent rage.

I feel for the killer's family. I know what it is like to have a dead child.

But I am also a firm believer in "nurture" over "nature."

Jennifer Ann's Group
JenniferAnn.org

[drew30319-2009]

The issue isn't being "bullied."

Who *hasn't* been bullied at some point in their lives?

I certainly had my share of it as a kid. Big deal. I managed. Thickened my skin a bit. That's part and parcel of being a kid.

But I also was raised with a moral foundation that instilled in me that it was unacceptable to kill people because they upset me. It was unacceptable to take the "easy way out." It was unacceptable to retreat into myself so far that I drifted along through life in a fantasy world where everybody was deserving of my incoherent rage.

I feel for the killer's family. I know what it is like to have a dead child.

But I am also a firm believer in "nurture" over "nature."

Jennifer Ann's Group
JenniferAnn.org

[anndoty]

MichelleM99

Update the constitution to what? Freedom of speech except if it offends? And who gets to decide if it is offensive? Way too scary for me to even contemplate.

[michellem99-2009]

I know the world is much different now than years ago. Being my 50s,us kids use to talk then about the future and what it might be like and so on. That future is now. It turned out to be much different. The same problems only worse. People changed as we do. We were free more so than today.
I was bullied as child for dumb reasons I had no control over. Yes it hurt. I grew up. We were never allowed to call others rude names.Yes the USA's constitution is truly out dated for the times we now live in and a new one be drafted/writ for now. It is needed to updated.

[anndoty]

"Kids and many adults do not realize that the world has changed. they make threats for the shock value not thinking that in this new day and age--the wrong words can get you locked up or in trouble."

The world may have changed but our US Constitution has not. I'd like someone to try & arrest me for something I've said! I plan to shout every racial slur I can think of today and threaten everyone I see. I may get fired, but I cannot be arrested.

[swwils]

Their are always going to be copycat weirdos and one reason is because of the media blitz or frenzy that happens after a tragedy occurs.I blame the way that the media makes all these crazy people into like some sort of sick hero.The government should intervene in messes like this and void all the negativity that is broadcast to the world.Reporting the news does not just include kaos.This is one incident that should be censored for the good of the nation.

[simpleguy234]

kudos BLUESTARDAD!!!!!! you hit the nail right on the head...."someone else did it so why cant I" .... Its kind of like that rubbernecker on the road who always has to stare at an accident scene for so long that he causes an accident himself...I vote for sterilization of all people on welfare (reversable when they are off of it of course), anyone with an IQ of less than 20, and a mass hanging of the editors of all the media when a copycat crime is committed..... PROBLEM SOLVED. May sound harsh but it would work, wouldnt it?

[bluestardad]

THIS THREAT IS BROUGHT ON BY THE IRESPONSIBLE COVERAGE OF THE MEDIA IN IDOLIZING THIS NUT JOB FROM VTECH SHOOTINGS FOR SOME SENSATIONALIZED RATINGS! WAY TO GO MEDIA YOU PUKES!

[zootallures2]

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[zootallures2]

From the grass roots right up to foreign policy. You'll never address the problem. Too arrogant and too much money to be made. You want to be sadistic bullies with impunity. Which creates fear and in turn sells arms and security devices.
Pretty soon the police will drive armoured vehicles instead of police cars. Maybe tanks? As you spiral out of control.

Surround every popular student with a missile shield...LOL!!! Just 4 easy payments of $19.99.

One of these days it won't be the wrong person but the wrong country and they'll put you in your place for good. If you don't implode first.