Why Sandy Hook is Different

I turned on the news as soon as I got home.  Less than five minutes later, I was crying.  Horrible images flooded my mind: the fear and confusion of those little ones in their last few minutes, trying to imagine what was going through the shooters mind as he looked at their terrified bodies.  One journalist had to compose herself before detailing the story of one teacher, who told her students there was a wild animal loose in the school.  As the day concluded, I could read the emotional exhaustion on each reporter’s face. 

Some say our country is a violent one, and there is no single explanation for it.  The chart above shows the number of mass-killings per year for the United States and 23 comparable countries... we are a clear outlier.  Here are some other interesting facts:

--- Since 1982 there have been over 60 mass-killings in the U.S. 

--- Worldwide, 15 of the 25 worst mass shootings in the last 50 years took place in the U.S.

--- Finland took second place in that list; they had two.

Despite witnessing fifteen years of school shootings, this is the first time I have imagined my mother, a 5^th grade school teacher for over 25 years, using her body as a shield to protect her students.  Why have I not considered this before? Why is it that since last Friday, I have not gone one hour without thinking about those innocent babies?

There is a reason I am just now connecting the dots between these shootings and my mother.  There is a reason this destruction has gripped the nation by its heart.  When we think of violence in America, we think of dark city streets and gas station robberies.  We don’t think of 1^st grade classrooms full of six and seven year olds.  While violence is an everyday part of the world we live in, it is not of our children’s world.  Before last Friday, each of us kept our children secluded from the tainted, violent world around them.  Today however, many parents across the country will delicately explain to their young ones “what to do if...”  We used to think of elementary schools as sheltered and secure.  Now we are forced to visualize classrooms erupting in chaos and terror.  We see teachers as sources of creativity, passion and knowledge.  Now we also picture them struggling to keep intruders from powering through their classroom door. 

Many people have read the chilling article “I am Adam Lanza’s Mother.”  It is written by the mother of Michael, a 10 year old boy who is mentally ill.  He has unpredictable violent outbursts, sometimes threatening to kill his mother or family.  Her two younger children know the drill: when Michael starts screaming, they run to the car and lock the doors. 

After reading this article, I searched for other stories and blogs of parents raising children with a history of violence.  I read one particularly disturbing blog about Rachel, a 12 year old girl that has (what I would describe as) sociopathic tendencies.  After Rachel tried to burn down her home with her mother trapped inside, the family decided they could not feel safe with Rachel living in their home.  She was sent to a residential home for the mentally ill.  Despite efforts from the family, the girl remains un-evaluated and un-diagnosed.  The facility regularly tries to give Rachel back to her family.  They reason, “She has been great all week!” while the next day, she sexually assaults two staff members. 

It was a violating and wretched thing that happened last Friday.  These are the sad truths we have to live with.  We all mourn for the victims and their families.  But we can’t leave it at that.  We must begin the dialog for better mental health awareness and support.  Poor understanding and low resources have denied Mental Health the attention it deserves.  If we want to heal from this tragedy, if we want our children to remain our children, we must take action.

I'd appreciate hearing your comments and thoughts about this issue, and what this tragedy has made you think about.

Lisa Rodgers

Research Analyst