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School Shooting Threats

Ever since the terrible tragedy of Columbine High School our news media outlets have continuously run stories on school shootings. However, according to statistics school shooters are on the rise more than ever. In 2018, the Center for Homeland Defense & Security revealed that school shootings incidents had nearly doubled in the last year with 110 recorded events.

The trend of rising school shooting incidents means that threats to shoot up schools are also on the rise.  In fact, threatening acts of gun and bomb related violence can result in a felony. Most school shooting threats are unfounded and made by people with no intention of ever carrying them out. This means a person could be labeled as a felon for simply making an distasteful joke or for saying something out of turn.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for a school shooting threat, it’s imperative you seek an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Defense Attorney for School Shooting Threats in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Making a violent threat against a school or any public institution can land a person with felony charges. Due to the drastic increase in school shootings, the courts take school shooter threats incredibly seriously. You or your child could be required to attend adult court and face the statutory penalties. To avoid these consequences, it’s highly advised you seek legal counsel.

Contact Meltzer & Bell for an experienced criminal defense attorney. We can set up your first consultation free if you simply dial (954) 765-6585. Once you’ve scheduled an appointment, a member of our team will review your case and answer all your legal questions. Together we can formulate a sturdy defense and one of our experienced and skilled lawyers will represent you in a court of law.

Meltzer & Bell accepts clients throughout the Broward County area including Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Hollywood and Miramar.

Overview of School Shooting Threats in Florida


Why Do School Shootings Happen?

No one can ever legitimize the murder of innocent people. It’s impossible to calculate the reasoning behind school shootings. However, studies have indicated American schoolchildren face an increased percentage of bullying now. According to a 2011 report by the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly 25 percent of children reported being bullied at some point in their lives.

In some cases, bullying victims internalize the suffering they’ve gone through. Many are not equipped with healthy coping skills due to family dysfunction or isolation. These children may suppress their trauma until it spills out in forms of terroristic threats against their school. This makes sense since American school children spend an average of 180 days a year at school.

Anger and vengeance aren’t the only motivating factors for school shooters in the past. School shootings have also been linked to a mental illness and a lack of treatment such as depression or extreme narcissism. The American Counseling Association stated that 78 percent of school shooters have had a history of suicide attempts or ideations prior to their attack. They also revealed less than one fifth of the attackers ever had a mental health evaluation.


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What Are the Consequences for Threatening a School Shooting in Florida?

Minors may not understand the true gravity behind making a school shooting threat. Constant news updates from the media and nihilistic humor on the internet has desensitized some children to school shooting events. It can be difficult for law enforcement to discern between what is a legitimate threat and what is a false report.

Police officers treat every school shooting threat as credible because the stakes of ignoring one are too high. This can mean a lot of police resources are wasted to evaluate these threats. The rapid influx of threats in Florida caused the state to pass new legislation in 2018. The new bill law would deter people from making school shooting or bomb threats online or in person. It’s now a second-degree felony to threaten a mass shooting or act of terrorism in such a way a person sees it as a threat. It can result in a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a court fine of up to $10,000.


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Additional Resources

State of Concern | The Educator’s School Safety Network – Visit a document presented by the Educator’s School Safety Network to learn read their analysis of U.S. States with high rates of violent threats or incidents. Access the report to learn statistics, concerns about the rising trend in violence and comparisons of state statistics against one another.

K-12 School Shooting Database – Visit the official website for Center for Homeland Security and Defense to learn more about school shootings from kindergarten to high school. Access their graphs to compare years, firearm type, area, and characteristics about the active shooter.


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School Shooting Defense Lawyer in Broward County, FL

Has your child been arrested for threatening to bring a gun to school? If so, it’s highly recommended you seek legal counsel. An attorney can examine your case and create a plan specifically for your case. Don’t wait another moment when it comes to your child’s future and call us today at (954) 765-6585.

Your first consultation is completely free on us. We will answer your legal questions and chart out your defense plan. Meltzer & Bell accepts clients throughout all parts of Broward County including Hollywood, Miramar, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Pembroke Pines.


This article was last updated on September 4, 2019. 

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