Maine Parents: Maine Media and Schools Jumping on the Florida School Shooting Paranoia Bandwagon

From our friends over at Maine Parents Blog,

I have kids.  I want them to be safe while they are in school.  I'm sure every other parent feels the same way.  But the horrific tragedy in Florida has everybody on edge.  And who wouldn't be?  The media is flooded with terrifying images and heartbreaking stories from the family members who lost their loved ones.

• In ‘catastrophic’ attack, heavily armed teenager massacres 17 at Florida school that expelled him
• These are the victims of the Florida school shooting

My heart goes out to the family and the community.

Now, thanks to our very own local news sources, this sort of fear and paranoia coming home.

As soon as the Florida tragedy happens, we get two potential school shooting cases and a bomb threat right here in our very own peaceful state.  It's sad that it happened, but the local newspapers harp on it.  And they use such powerful words to spark even more fear and anxiety into parents.  That's how they get ratings.

• Parents, students frightened following threat to South Portland High School
• South Portland student carrying knife when arrested, police say
• South Portland student accused of threatening to ‘shoot up the school’

Here's the other case.

• Cony Middle School student charged with terrorizing after gun threat 2 days ago
• Cony High School Student Charged With Terrorizing For Alleged Threat

And I look and here's another one that just happened...

• Topsham elementary school evacuated due to possible bomb threat
• Students evacuated from Topsham elementary school

And from the day before.

• Threats of violence made to Mt. Ararat High School

Now I do appreciate that the schools and the police are doing everything they can to keep our kids safe.  But with the news media filling the normal person with such horror, I'm worried that the schools will end up resembling prisons in the name of safety.  Or give the idea to troubled teenagers with guns.

• Non-profit: Maine leads country in school threats per capita

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©