Surviving Tough Times

 March 10, SAMSON, Ala. -- A gunman kills 10 people and commits suicide in a rampage across southern Alabama.

March 22, OAKLAND, Calif. -- A man pulled over in a traffic stop fatally shoots two officers and then kills two more in a gunfight in which the suspect was also killed.

March 29, SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A man shoots and kills his two children and three other relatives, then kills himself at a family party.

March 29, CARTHAGE, N.C. -- A man opens fire in a nursing home and kills seven residents and a nurse who cared for them.

April 3, BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- A gunman bursts into an immigrant center and kills 13 people before killing himself.

April 4, PITTSBURGH -- A gunman opens fire on officers responding to a domestic disturbance call, killing three of them.

April 4, GRAHAM, Wash. -- A man fatally shoots his five children in their mobile home and then takes his own life.

April 7: PRICEVILLE, Ala. -- Two women and two children were shot to death in a home.

April 10: Dearborn, Mich. – A man shoots a fellow student with a shotgun before taking his own life in a murder-suicide at Henry Ford Community College.

This list shows it’s been a deadly past few weeks in the United States.  Nine multiple fatal shootings have left 59 people dead. 

Maybe it’s the tough economic times putting pressure on people or just coincidence, but what seems to be very clear is that communities need to be on a heightened state of alert.

Law enforcement needs to be extra vigilant.  Communities need to make as many counseling and job retaining programs available as budgets permit.  School officials need to review their emergency plans.  Families and friends of troubled people can’t be shy in reporting suspicious behavior by their loved ones.

And let’s take full advantage of the camera, access control and mass communications systems many cities have installed.  It’s time to use every tool and tactic available to us.

We’ll likely never know the motives that led to each of these shootings.  But we can’t allow ourselves to become afraid of sending or kids to school, going to a family party or attending church.  Tough times require law enforcement, public safety, security and mental health professionals, religious leaders and ordinary citizens to come together to help us all survive.  

-- Patrick Fiel, ADT Public Safety Advisor

About the Author

PublicSafetyWatch blog

The PublicSafetyWatch blog is sponsored by ADT Security Services, Inc. ('ADT') and SecurityInfoWatch.com with contributions from SecurityInfoWatch.com staff editors, ADT, public safety and security industry experts and professionals. The purpose of the blog is to discuss security related topics such as school security, municipal surveillance, public transportation security, public safety security concerns, and security innovations. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the PublicSafetyWatch blog are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of SecurityInfoWatch.com, Cygnus Business media, Inc., or ADT Security Services, Inc. or any of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, directors, officers, employees or agents (the 'Sponsors'). The Sponsors do not endorse nor are they responsible for any opinions, advice, content, omissions, hyperlinks, images, articles, information or statements made or displayed within this blog by third parties. The Sponsors reserve the right to delete, withhold from publication, or edit any comment for any reason whatsoever. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Sponsors make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis with no warranties. Terms and Conditions of Use: By reading, viewing, accessing, contributing or otherwise using this blog, you acknowledge the foregoing Disclaimer and agree to these Terms of Use. All information published shall become the property of the Sponsors. You are granted a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you comply fully with these Terms and Conditions of Use. Under no circumstances shall the Sponsors, contributors or suppliers, or their agents, be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any information contained within this blog. The Sponsors will attempt to respond to specific issues, questions, complaints, or concerns that are brought to their attention; however, the Sponsors have no obligation to monitor any content displayed/posted on this blog.