Bomb threats: Whats the real harm?

[jaydee]

I know they can cause some problems, but for crying out loud, a 6 grader at my school, wrote about a bomb on a paper towel in the bathroom, and now, he'll probably get expelled, and he'll spend time in juvenile hall. What's the deal? We had another bomb threat the week before and if this kid now has a felony over his head if he's caught, (assuming he's 16). Doesn't anyone think this is overly excessive? Neither threats caused any problems, with the exception of of standing on the football field for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I say give 'em each mabey 5 extended extensions, and let 'em go. This is insane. What do you think?

 

[JayPatel]

youd be surprised at what kids are able to do these days!

 

[visgf]

It may not have caused any physical damage, but how was anyone to really know whether or not the kid was serious. If everyone went around making fake bomb threats, police and other authorities would be so tied up trying to figure those out that the actual bombings would go unnoticed until it is too late. Blowing somebody up is not a joking matter and neither is talking about it, so the kid needs to learn that that type of behavior isn't acceptable.

 

[Viper GTS]

The fear it instills in people is the reason behind the zero-tolerance policy.

Viper GTS

 

[palad]

I don't think it's so much the severity of the crime that they're punishing as much as trying to head off something worse before it happens. After all the school-aimed violence of the last few years, teachers and administrators have to take threats like this seriously. At the least, they stand to be held up for ridicule in front of the public for 'ignoring the warning signs'. At worst, they could be contributing to the death of one or several children. Bottom line, as far as the teachers are concerned, they can't take these things too seriously. Also, it may well provide precedent in punishing offenders who actually do carry out their threats. If a child can be tried as an adult for joking about blowing up a school, imagine what they can do to a child who actually brings a bomb to school. I think they may be trying to use fear/intimidation to make kids think twice before they do something like this. In reality, I think the result will be that the kids just find ways to be sneakier.

 

[Balt]

Of course it shouldn't be tolerated, but do you think time spent in juvenile hall will cure him?

I think he deserves to be suspended or expelled (and have mandatory counseling), but I'm betting he'll be more troublesome after leaving juvi (I could be wrong, of course).

I doubt it.

 

[toph99]

<< youd be surprised at what kids are able to do these days! >>



exactly. i had the knowledge to make 'homemade napalm' when i was in 6th grade, and some other nasty stuff as well. i always had an interest in explosives and firearms, but would never use it against someone. you'd be surprised at the amount of people who would though. quite sad

 

[Soybomb]

What Vi's gf said

 

[duragezic]

We had a couple bomb threats before and they look to punish whoever did it pretty bad (even a $1000 reward for the latest one). Some kid got caught from doing one I seen in the paper.

Maybe the worst part is that when they do have a threat, even though it is probably bs, they HAVE TO check the whole damn building with a ton of cops and bomb dog which takes a lot of time and money.

 

[ltk007]

Bomb Threat, I hope someone calls one into my school tomorrow. I can't take another day