Boy With AK-47 Opens Fire In Mo. School

Culture & Society Forum

JOPLIN, Mo. -- A 13-year-old student fired an AK-47 inside his middle school Monday morning after confronting two others students and his principal, but no one was injured, authorities said.

The student was wearing a mask and pointed the assault rifle at Principal Steve Gilbreth, Assistant Superintendent Steve Doerr and two students, saying, "not to make me do this," Superintendent Jim Simpson said.

Simpson said the teen then fired a shot into the ceiling, breaking a water pipe, and said again, "Please don't make me do this."


"It was a very close call," Simpson said.

Doerr and Gilbreth persuaded the student to leave the building, where he was confronted by two police officers with weapons drawn. The student dropped the rifle and was taken into custody, Simpson said. The student's identity was not released.

Joplin police Officer Curt Farmer said officers found a note in the student's backpack indicating that he had placed an explosive in the school, which has about 700 students. Students in the school were moved to nearby Joplin Memorial Hall, and the school was closed while officers searched the building.

The student was wearing a mask and apparently had been planning an attack for a "long time," Simpson said. He didn't elaborate and said authorities did not know whether others were involved.

Joplin, which has about 40,900 residents, is in southwest Missouri, on the Kansas border about 140 miles south of Kansas City.

Schools across the country have been on alert after three deadly school shootings in three states in the span of a week, and several schools have been locked down or closed entirely during the past two weeks because of threats.

In Pennsylvania Amish country Monday morning, church bells tolled across the region in remembrance of the five young girls who were shot to death at their one-room schoolhouse one week earlier

where the hell does a 13-year old purchase an AK-47?

At least the dude didn't shoot anyone. Sweet day in the morning, kids are going insane the past few months. Maybe NBC should bring back Saved By The Bell or something.

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I'm glad that no one was shot... but, I'm with Dreamz... where in the bloody hell does a 13 year old get their hands on an AK-47? What kind of world are we living in?

Well, you can pretty much narrow it down to family or friends. That of course begs the question, what kind of people are they to leave a AK-47 laying around for a kid to pick it up and take it to school. Who knows, I've given up on trying to understand the mentality of others. I just laugh and make rude comments once they are out of earshot.

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I know that parents say... "Well, I had my guns locked up!" Duh, you dip ****, kids will take your keys! Try putting the guns in a safe, with a combination on it, that they don't know. I swear, we have some dumb ass parents in this world. If you have a gun, make sure that it is in a place that a child can not take it/use it.

Growing up my dad kept his shotgun under his head. Still does. Did I mess with it as a kid? Hell no. My parents explained that it could hurt me. That is to say I would get my ass smacked if I touched it... nevermind the gun.

Seriously though, parents don't teach children the danger of guns. They think it's a toy.

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Times have changed... kids are more violent. I don't know if video games with such blood and gore are helpful. I'm not blaming it on games... but, these kids learn it somewhere, and think... "I'm pissed off at the world, and I'm going to shoot some people up!"

I think kids are more violent because they are not taught the difference between fantasy and reality. I graduated high school in the mid-90's, and when I was a wee lad there was no PG-13. It was either PG or R. There were no television ratings or music censors. Kids need boundaries and more often than not a kick to the rear.

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I agree... there aren't the boundaries when we were growing up... and certainly nothing like when our parents were growing up. These days, kids see, and hear, it all. There isn't much that is censored. Parents don't care (not all...) what their kids are watching, playing, doing, etc... We live in a society where you put your kids in front of a computer, or tv, and let them do their thing, so you can do yours. When I was growing up, we all watched tv together, as a family. We played games together.

I don't think Ak-47's are legal to own. I may be wrong. Not real up on guns, but I think the Ak is the Russian relative to our M-16.

I'm not sure either... but, who knows! Maybe certain people, depending on reason, can get permits for such guns. Then again, maybe someone bought it, on the black market.

In the U.S., AK-47's manufactured domestically prior to 1986 and imported prior to 1968 may be transferred between civilians in accordance with federal and state law.

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Well they should not be owned by civilians plain and simple, I used them in the marines and it is without a doubt the best but also the most dangerous gun ever made it is ridiculously easy to handle, reload and fire.

Mind you tghe kid could have got it fromk anywhere since communism fell in Russia these types of weapon are easy to get if you know where to look.

In the U.S. there is a fanatical group called the NRA that is very observant of laws regarding civilian use of firearms. It's a well financed organization that therefore has a lot of representation in the government. To some in the NRA trying to strip them on an AK is just like trying to take a handgun.

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I ain't to up on the NRA I know they are a bunch of nutcases that our Prince Phillip would gladly be aligned with if he got the chance. Howvere I am willing to bet two things 1. they are more likely to lean to the right and 2. the majority are relgious or that god is mentioned in thier constitution if they have one.

Well, I wouldn't generalize them all as nutcases. As for the rest, well, spot on my friend.

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The problem with kids today is that they don't know the difference between right and wrong. This whole "time out crap" is stupid. Parents are so concerned with their kids getting their feelings hurt and having insecurities that they just DON'T punish them anymore. Parents are so lenient now it's ridiculous. And all those stupid video games - it's true, kids DON'T know the difference between reality and fantasy. I'm gonna stay on top of my kids. Parents seem to just not care anymore.

Time out. It should be lights out with a backhand.

Happy Meal Generation strikes again.

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I don't know that kids are more violent. I think the same amount of kids are being just as violent, but with a lack of discipline and a non-existent or ill formed moral compass the kids cease to respect authority, know the difference between right and wrong or fathom the consequences of their actions.

Teachers and parents have gone soft on kids and as a result control in the class and at home is at an all time minimum. The Happy Meal Generation is here to destroy us.

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my personal opinion is the violence has always been there, but after the school shootings started, and they get all the press coverage, all these weirdo's get to watch hours and hours of coverage, grieving parents, pissed off reporters, dumbfounded politicians, and they LOVE it. They want some more of it.

It's become the average whacked out mental case's ultimate goal, to shoot up a school.

I don't know what to do about it.

So you think it's kind of a sick fad now? That is a good point. Just makes you wonder what the next level is.

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Fad or not, it still goes back to parenting. Parents are supposed to teach their kids that doing it just b/c it's a fad IS WRONG. just thinking that shooting up kids is wrong.... I MEAN DUH!!!! Man, I hate how teachers aren't even allowed to yell at kids in class anymore b/c it "humiliates them." lame. These kids need a spanking. I'm pro-spanker. I'm not pro-abuser, but damn, sometimes kids need a spanking. I know I deserved every spanking I got as a kid and I turned out fab-u-lous. Time out only works so the kids can plan their NEXT evil act. I was taught respect with a slap in the face. said something disrespectful? SLAAAAP! you better believe I thought about the next thing that was gonna come out of my mouth after that. I've actually seen kids yell, curse and ***** out their parents, and all the parents do is roll their eyes or curse back at them. uh wtf?