Columbine Parents Surprised That Shooting Warnings Were Ignored
Parents Remind Students To Come Forward
Parents and counselors who helped Columbine students two years ago are surprised that warning signs are still being ignored, 7News reported.
Psychology experts have said that suspects in cases like the shootings in Santee, Calif., almost always tell someone about their violent plans.
While the parents and counselors understand that people don't want to believe what they're hearing, they said that in this day and age, we can't afford to give suspects the benefit of the doubt.
Friends of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold now say that the signs were there for the Columbine attack – but they didn't take them seriously.
"He'd just get a cold glare in his eyes and say, 'One of these days I swear I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it,' and I'd say, 'Lighten up a little bit,'" Cory Fiesen (pictured, right), a friend of Harris and Klebold, said.
After hearing about the Santee, Calif., tragedy, parents in Colorado said that they're once again reminding their kids to come forward.
"She shares everything, any little thing that happens on the playground or in the classroom," parent Jeffrey Bundt said.
Evidence suggests that when people do take threats seriously, it can make a difference. In the last month and a half, potential attacks at schools in Colorado, Kansas and California were avoided because someone spoke up, 7News reported.
"I would encourage anyone who hears any kind of threat, to take it seriously until proven otherwise," said Tom Olbrich (pictured, right), a member of the Jefferson Center For Mental Health team. Olbrich helped counsel students at Columbine.
Olbrich said that tragedy after tragedy has proven that the public should overreact instead of underreact to a threat.
"How can you not take any remark seriously, especially nowadays, because it's so easy for kids to pick up a gun, they think that's a solution?" parent Cindy Wenger said.
A staff of counselors is available at the Columbine Connection to help the public deal with any anxiety caused by the Santana High School shootings.
Columbine Connection
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9126 W. Bowles Suite 2C, Denver
(303) 972-7977
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"He'd just get a cold glare in his eyes and say, 'One of these days I swear I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it,' and I'd say, 'Lighten up a little bit,'" Cory Fiesen (pictured, right), a friend of Harris and Klebold, said.
After hearing about the Santee, Calif., tragedy, parents in Colorado said that they're once again reminding their kids to come forward.
"She shares everything, any little thing that happens on the playground or in the classroom," parent Jeffrey Bundt said.
Evidence suggests that when people do take threats seriously, it can make a difference. In the last month and a half, potential attacks at schools in Colorado, Kansas and California were avoided because someone spoke up, 7News reported.
"I would encourage anyone who hears any kind of threat, to take it seriously until proven otherwise," said Tom Olbrich (pictured, right), a member of the Jefferson Center For Mental Health team. Olbrich helped counsel students at Columbine.
Olbrich said that tragedy after tragedy has proven that the public should overreact instead of underreact to a threat.
"How can you not take any remark seriously, especially nowadays, because it's so easy for kids to pick up a gun, they think that's a solution?" parent Cindy Wenger said.
A staff of counselors is available at the Columbine Connection to help the public deal with any anxiety caused by the Santana High School shootings.
Columbine ConnectionMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9126 W. Bowles Suite 2C, Denver
(303) 972-7977
- March 6, 2001: Columbine Offers Help To California School
- February 26, 2001: Negotiations Continue In Alleged 'Columbine-Style' Attack Case
- February 14, 2001: Boulder H.S. On Alert After Threats
- February 9, 2001: Teens Charged In 'Columbine-Style' Attack Conspiracy
- February 8, 2001: Columbine Autopsy Reports Released
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