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Spotting and Stopping Shooters |
Tuesday, May 28, 2013 |
11:30 AM–12:50 PM |
102 A (Convention Center) |
Area: CSE/TPC; Domain: Service Delivery |
Chair: Judy G. Blumenthal (Association for Behaviour Change) |
Discussant: Judy G. Blumenthal (Association for Behaviour Change) |
CE Instructor: W. Joseph Wyatt, Ph.D. |
Abstract: There is, in our county, a blemish, a blip, that surfaces itself in a regular manner. It is horrifying to those involved. A person, so far always a male, who collects a variety of weapons and steps before a crowd and begins shooting at then. Following such a shooting the memory and emotional impact of the event fades away but then, after a lapse of time, the situation occurs again with a new cast and a new location. Nothing seems to deter its happening. Predicting the individual who would commit such a deed has proven to be difficult as has an attempt to understand the psychological development of such a person. Obviously something must be done. Our symposium focuses on the possible groups that might be involved in having contact with such a person. Those groups consist of parents, school personnel, neighbors, police and religious leaders. Each group will be discussed in terms its potential for interacting with and understanding the potential shooter and how we might encourage communication and cooperation among the different groups. The bottom line is to get high risk individuals into treatment as a preventive measure. Dr. Joe Wyatt will discuss the assessment of likelihood of a school shooting incident. Dr. Roger McIntire will discuss child rearing practices used by parents of shooters. Dr. Donald Pumroy will discuss the possible treatment of the shooter by the many different disciplines and groups. |
Keyword(s): parenting, personality, prevention, violence |
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Assessment of Likelihood of a School Shooting Incident |
W. JOSEPH WYATT (Marshall University) |
Abstract: School shooters such as those at Columbine, Colorado; Pearl, Mississippi and Paducah, Kentucky share characteristics that should aid professionals in identifying other such youngsters. These include physical, family, behavioral and environmental characteristics. These will be discussed as they have been uncovered in a number of high profile school shooting incidents. These may be viewed as a checklist to be employed by professionals who suspect that the possibility of an incident may be on the horizon. |
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Parenting Behaviors and Potential Shooters |
ROGER W. MCINTIRE (University of Maryland, Summit Crossroads Press) |
Abstract: Interviews with parents of shooters seem to describe an ordinary household but they also show severely damaged communication lines between parent and child. Often parents were not aware of emotional problems, nor school problems. Even particulars, such as awareness of arms and ammunition, are missing. Reduced experience in basic communication and listening skills, has often left both parent and child with little knowledge or interest in details of the activities of other family members. With so little information, parents may be at a loss as to what to do. This presentation will describe a brief family communication workshop that school staff could offer. The workshop would help parents stay informed of important aspects of their childs daily family and school circumstances. School-organized parent discussion groups are also suggested in the workshop description. |
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Understanding and Changing Shooters' Behavior |
DONALD K. PUMROY (University of Maryland) |
Abstract: New shooters come out the woodwork ever six months and people say "he was such a nice boy, quiet and a regular at church." The focus of this paper is on the cause of the deviant behavior and possible ways to modify and treat it. Our orientation is that this behavior comes from the learning that has taken place in the shooter's life so the treatment needs to focus on such learning. There are many different people and groups who spot the deviant behavior but they tip toe around it and do nothing. Or they pass the word on to someone and that someone does nothing. As part of the understanding of the problem these groups need to have a felt responsibility to report suspicious behavior along this line. And there needs to be a way to insure communication among these individuals and groups. Treatment should focus on ways to facilitate action within such groups and to help the shooter understand and to modify his behavior. Shooting behavior must cease. |
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