Your children aren't safe, anywhere or any time

[BaronTx]

I realize the authorities don't wan't to give out any information that might hinder their investigation, but withholding the note that threatened the children of the area was wrong. As a parent, I want to know about threats such as this. I know the odds of one child among thousands becoming the next victim are way, way out there, but it would be MY decision whether or not to keep my child out of school. Do any of y'all have any thoughts about this? Am I just being paranoid?

[Tybaltus]

You can take many different stances on why you should still let your child should do what hes always done. I wont necessarily go into them, but you should do what your fatherly mind beckons. What is best? Paranoia is something Ive always had, and its something thats going to prevent me from doing many things. Always. Will I regret not doing the stuff that I dont want to do? I dont know. I will never know. Cause I will never do it.

I know there are snipers and copy cats out there making people run, but are you willing to bar up your child from exploring worlds that children like to roam? The repercussions of such things could be very negative.

But you are the father, and I know youve got what it takes to know whats best for your kid

[Weasel]

Quote:

Originally posted by BaronTx Do any of y'all have any thoughts about this? Am I just being paranoid?

At the age of 21 I learned why my mother always looked worried. I had my first child and with this event came the thought, I cannot protect her everyday of her life. I cannot see into the future and stop an event that will completely break me. For the longest time..my fear was getting the call..(I refuse to even put it down in writing)

[Ned Flanders]

I agree with you baron that it was wrong for the authorities to hold such info.

Still, I don't subscribe to the notion of closing up and barring the doors with this sniper roaming abound. It's easy to say when you're not there though. Still, I would like to think I would have the strength to be strong for my family and assure the children they would be alright. I wouldn't want the events to contain us in our home. The home is supposed to be a happy place and the thought of needing it as a defense would take some of the fun out of being there.

Furthermore, you'd have to leave the house at some point. Who knows how long this will go on and even if you have to go the store for a few things, the attacks over the course of the month show nowhere is safe.

[Scayde]

I think the public should be given the information to decide these things.I myself, would not take my child out of school, but I would be vigilant, and would feel better knowing there was an imminent threat, than being kept in the dark about it..

[Chanak]

I tend to view life itself as one continuous risk. Each day, when we open our eyes, we each are subjected to countless risks as the day progresses. While we may obviously prepare for some of the more obvious ones, we can never truly insulate ourselves against every possibility. In order to do that, we would essentially have to stop living altogether, which can truly be a fate worse than death.

That is what terrorists seek to do - imprison their victims in a cage of fear, making life not worth living after a time. Life is risk, it's putting yourself at the mercy of fate, or circumstance, or coincedence, whatever you might believe in. Seeking to shelter yourself, or others, from these essential components of life creates a sort of un-life, in my opinion.

I would not withdraw my children from school. I would refuse to let fear rule my life. I risk my neck every day driving on the highways...you never know when you might get hit, or shot at.

[Maharlika]

...malls have been bombed, buses and the LRT have been blasted, and a lot of other stuff have happened and are still happening.

Sure, it is wise to be proactive rather than be reactive, however, we can only do so much. Life is always there with risks involved. Precautionary steps are fine but not to the extreme that it would radically change your way of life. Panic and fear is what these evil men crave from the general populace.

I agree though with Baron that the community must be aware of the general area or state.

[fable]

It's never paranoid to instill in your kids both a sense of personal responsibility and a realization of your love. If you can do these two things, and offer them a group of rules applicable to wherever you live, then they have a good chance of growing up safe from some of the problems out there.

Tangentially, the US *is* the most violent democracy that's supposedly at peace. School shootings, snipers, homicidal employees, "road rage," are things generally unheard of in much of Western Europe. As a whole, we might do well to consider how we arrived at that stage, examining the differences that have led us to where we are. I suspect this would have to be a grassroots phenomenon; our politicians of any stripe will never take initiative, unless it's seeking new ways of convincing others to keep 'em in office.

[Gwalchmai]

These psychological games that the police are playing with the media are absurd. All citizens have a right to know about threats against them, including the children. That way, everyone can take precautions individually, augmenting the precautions the authorities have implemented to safe guard them.

Its mind boggling that this shooter hasn’t been caught yet.

[fable]

Frankly, I'm surprised the police are using the media as a method of relaying information to the killer. This is dangerous, because it receives the most widespread coverage, and feeds into paranoia, while giving at least the appearance of achieving nothing in return.

[Yshania]

However belated the threat, would I then put my child on the streets? No. I am happy to bow to this madman's desire to dominate, I will please him to avoid risking my kids lives unnessasarily. What if? I would not want to even contemplate the "what ifs" should I have "stood up" to this madman's ego trip and walked my kids out of the door for them to be hit. I live in a completely different environment, I appreciate that, but even if I lived in Washington I would not have my kids on the street until this madman was caught. For as long as it is in my power to protect my own, I will do what I can.

The public had a right to know.

[Obsidian]

Yes, people have a right to know, but fable's right. The fear being spread by the media is ridiculous. Statistically speaking, there is a far greater chance any one of us would be killed by a car, or have a heart attack, or be hit by lightning then be shot by the sniper.
Admittidely, I live in Canada, and am not a parent. I can honestly see why people are afraid, but the odds are so insane that shuttering up and keeping yourself in your house is frankly stupid.

If people cower and cringe before one madman with a rifle, one man is beating thousands. Forcing every citizen of the region into submission by killing about 0.000065% of their population. Think about that. If I recall there are some 20 million people in the likely radius of the gunmans targets. So a one in 20 million chance you will be killed.

Think about it, will you ruin your lives living in terror for these odds? I hope not.

[Maharlika]

...but I do understand how Ysh feels regarding this matter.

The odds are still in everyone's favor, however there should be no room for complacency. Public awareness is one thing, but to overdo it and thus create (regardless if it was unintentional) a somewhat feeling towards mass hysteria is one side of the coin that must be tempered with caution.

Perhaps the parents should make their kids aware what has been happening recently and perhaps come up with "house rules" that their children would understand regarding this matter.

By the way, has any of the victims been children? IIRC, they are all adults.

[Sojourner]

I hate how the media is turning this into a circus.

[Yshania]

Quote:

Originally posted by Obsidian Think about it, will you ruin your lives living in terror for these odds? I hope not.

My kids are 7 and 5, they do not play on the streets unaccompanied, their lives would not be ruined if I kept them home, and if they were home I would not be terrified of the thought they may become the next - whatever the odds. I do not think that by keeping my kids close to me when there is such a threat is behaving hysterically, I would be making an informed choice - trusting that we as the public are notified of course. We are not talking about "shuttering up" for a lifetime as I am hopeful he will be caught soon. We cannot protect our children from every threat, some are not as obvious as others, but when we are able we should be willing. Call it terror, call it hysteria, call it what you like you are entitled to your opinion, just as I am. Any madman looking to take a child's life will go to the obvious places, a park for instance, a school. We - given the knowledge - can make the decision to consider alternatives until he is caught. What parent would happily allow their child in a busy playground knowing a threat has been made to take the life of a child?

And this talk of educating the kids...how can you teach your kids to avoid a snipers bullet?

@Ob, and I am sure when you said "shuttering up and keeping yourself in your house is frankly stupid" you intended this as a general personal opinion of the situation and not directly of me