Long ago, and depending on what is near or far, a school shooter, who heard voices, was listening to the news about school shooters. Were the voices real, imagined, in person, on the phone or even on line? No matter the source, Kip Kinkel leaned into dark voices. And on May 21, 1998 he opened fire in his school after killing, at point blank range with multiple shots, his parents.
Long ago, to some "yesterday's news", I was listening also. It was the 1996 -1997 school year into the 1997-98 school year. The news was full of school shootings. I was leaning into voices on prevention and Scripture. I did not harden my heart to what was happening but sought help for my student and my class.
My book explains, in detail, my actions in 1998. Kip Kinkle and President Bill Clinton are discussed also for their actions.
I was not alone on prevention. President Clinton was listening too. Kip Kinkel's actions triggered a call to action from the Clinton Administration. No matter how anyone remembers Clinton in history, I will always respect the steps he took for prevention in protecting our schools. The summer of 1998 brought us the Guide to Safe Schools. My book goes into detail.
It is too bad some educators continued to ignore the advise, especially the administration at Columbine High School April 20, 1999. Maybe the Columbine effect would be a different trigger point for students intead of a legacy for students bent on killing.
Did the shooters at Columbine have similar voices that Kip Kinkle had? Legal issues in and out of school, guns, bombs and depression were common denomimators of the three shooters. Kip, without time revealing anything different, acted alone but had troubled and criminal friends. Harris and Kleibold leaned on each other to create death, destruction, and to some, a road to follow into perdition.
The news was full of massacres this past weekend. They were not at schools, and not knowing any particular details, one can surmise guns, darkness and revenge factored in. Most likely, all shooters were not first time offenders and obtained weapons outside of legal means.
Massacres have been defined by the number of people shot or injured. Four or more dead is a massacre. I do not remember the Thurston High School shooting being called a massacre. Four died and many physically injured. The whole community suffered.
The first video link is a community member and reporter who remembered the shooting 23 years after the shooting. He said we should remember. That day on May 21, 1998 changed the way he covered stories. He wept which helped others.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Q8zcDrgsmSM?is=A_AApbVlmertfE_
Frontline Documentary: Monday Morning
https://youtu.be/dK-dtXJExvA?is=0pAMuE8q8rdqJyCU
This shooting happened three days after I spoke to my former school community on May 18, 1998 because on March 24, 1998, the death of Shannon Wright changed the way I taught and live to this very day.
Prevention: Not a new concept.
https://youtu.be/ZUJ11i6R0kk?is=CCxfXgZ-z5sXUbBt
Love,
Marian
Marian R. Carlino
July 20, 2026