Since November, Roseville Police officers have worked with our schools on at least eleven incidents involving an actual or rumored firearm. Some led to full lock-downs of campuses while officers investigated threats or searched for a gun. Two incidents involved an actual gun on a school campus. In others, officers investigated threats and seized firearms off campus. With so many tragic school shootings in the national news, all such incidents are frightening for students, school staff, parents and the community.
As we’ve reviewed these school safety incidents, we’ve seen some common themes. Here's how parents and guardians can help keep our students and our school campuses safer.
First, if you’re a gun owner, make sure all your firearms are locked up and juveniles and others have no access to them without your consent and close supervision. Store firearms in a gun safe or lock box, and ensure that juveniles have no access to the key or the combination.
At a minimum, gun locks are an inexpensive way to secure firearms, and can prevent tragedies caused by children playing or accidental discharges. We have a free supply of cable gun locks for handguns at the police department—come by and pick one up during regular business hours.
Replica firearms, like bb guns and Airsoft-type guns, are illegal to possess at schools and illegal to use within city limits. Like real firearms, they can be used to threaten people, and can cause a great deal of alarm. They can also be dangerous--think of what could happen if someone brandishing a replica firearm confronts someone armed with a real gun. Make sure replica firearms are properly secured at home, and used only at safe places outside of city limits and under your supervision.
Second, talk to your children about how quickly things can go wrong in social media, and monitor what they’re posting. This is an especially bad time to be “joking” about guns and violence against others. Caution kids about posting pictures of guns, pictures of themselves holding guns (even fake ones) on social media, and using threatening language about schools or other people. Even if they’re only joking, showing off or blowing off steam, their messages can cause alarm and unintended consequences.
Third, if your child is struggling with depression, anger or other emotional or mental issues, talk to their school counselor. Your child’s school can be the best place to get help, because they already know your child, and their services are embedded into your child’s regular school schedule. You can also talk to your child’s pediatrician, your family doctor, or any counseling services provided through your health insurance or your employer.
If you don’t have access to such services, here are more resources for children and families in our area:
--Placer County Family & Children's Services: (916)872-6549
--Placer County Crisis Resolution Center, offering crisis counseling, teen shelter and follow-up resources for teens and their parents: (866)251-7584
--The Lighthouse Counseling and Family Resource Center: (916) 645-3300
--Placer Network of Care:
www.Placer.networkofcare.org/mh This is a web-based searchable database for all kinds of resources available to Placer County residents.
Finally, remind your children that if they “see something, say something.” Students have prevented likely tragedies in Roseville by coming forward and telling their school resource officer or school officials about a safety concern with another student.