The Salem Kaiser Threat Assessement System: An Interview With John Van Dreal

In February of 2018, Liberal Gun Owners developed a think tank from our own organizational leadership and development core. The think tank’s first task was to contemplate, at a deeper level, our decision to be an organization who has a mission of supporting both the unassailable aspect of modern firearms ownership and the mitigation of all forms of firearms violence. During this deeper contemplation, we determined that, on an annual basis, we would choose one aspect of firearms violence, research it, and produce a report on the deeper aspects of the issue - along with recommendations for our members, the wider gun culture, and the wider world. Due to the fact that acts of targeted violence are surging in an obvious and egregious fashion, we decided to make the school shooting (along with the more general targeted shooting) the seminal focus of our efforts.

In order to continue, we would like to define or you the targeted shooting through defining the term targeted violence.

Targeted Violence is the result of an understandable and often discernible process of thinking and behavior. It stems from an interaction between the potential attacker, past stressful events, a current situation and the target. In this iteration, the subject will display “attack-related” behaviors that move along a continuum of idea to action, including thinking, planning and logistical preparations. (Fein & Vossekuill 1998)

It follows, reasonably, that the “school shooting” is its own, unique version of targeted violence that contains, often, additional factors of that revolve in modern adolescence.

Upon the beginning of our researching effort we realized that outside collaboration, by those who are experts in the field, was going to be necessary. It was also our determination that there was a high probability that effective systems and protocols of mitigation were, most likely, already in existence and just ensconced away from the fog of the superficial, internet-political-media loops. It took no more than 3 days to ascertain that we were correct. There are indeed, scores of professionals already engaged in using and advancing systems that are effective in mitigating targeted violence and targeted violence in schools. So, this begs the question: why is American culture and American political culture not aware of such systems?

The reason is,unfortunately, the same reason that is at the root of much of our cultural strife: a society of people who are complacent, who do not seek to

go past the limits of their bias, who now use instant information, entertainment media, superficial governance,

The answer

Questions for JVD. Some naive and banal on purpose.

1. The very first speaker in your seminar stated:

“The World has changed.”

Questions for JVD. Some naive and banal on purpose.

1. The very first speaker in your seminar stated:

“The World has changed.”

Even before coming to the seminar, I observed that there are conflicting conclusions about this specific time in human history and, in particular, conflicting conclusions about the phenomenon of targeted shootings. Even among your own team, mostly in their subtext, you can hear varied conclusions on this concept. I know that human violence and targeted violence are common throughout human history. However, I would like to ask you your view.

Is the presence of of targeted violence in schools:

A. New?

B. Significant?

C. Worthy of specialized professional attention?

D. A global phenomenon or an American phenomeon?

E. If it is new, what has happened in society to bring this into fruition?

2. Is it preferable or critical that professional systems to targeted violence mitigation / prevention be instituted into school culture? Both American and international school cultures? Elaborate.

3. Do you and your colleagues discuss scenarios where the rate of targeted shootings in schools increases significantly? That is, the possibility of the contagious aspect of phenomenon, in society, increases exponentially?

4. If we assume that STAS and other systems are essential foundations to preventing / mitigating targeted violence in schools, do you think it would be helpful or harmful to proper development to have them federally mandated? Are state mandates necessary towards implemention?

5. If a school system attempts to institute threat assessment:

A. Can they take a simple, “build as we go” approach or do they have to go “whole hog”? What would be the minimum line of implementation for a school in year one? “Just get to the point where you are doing X.”

B. Would it be helpful for a school to develop the Tier 1 Threat structure, even w/o an adequate Tier 2 structure?

6. We observe obvious reticence in American culture in regards to a better understanding of targeted violence in schools. The same reticence with appropriate action. Have you come across this reticence during your time with STAS? Elaborate.

7. The overall societal approach inside of STAS and your team seems to be one of:

“Don’t over react, but don’t do nothing.”

Fair assessment? Can you elaborate on the approach.

8. If you had one opportunity to tell a room full of parents and teachers, with very little knowledge of these matters, why they need to look into Student Threat Assessment, what, simply, would you say to them?

9. If you were approached by a parent, who was not in your school system, who had no Threat Assessment system in their child’s school, who had an adolescent son who had behaviors tending towards a Tier 2 threat, how would you guide that parent?

10. Can you talk, briefly about the affects of student threat assessment on bullying in your time in the Salem Kaiser School district?

11. A number of the people on your team(s) are Gun Owners. Firearms are an obvious part of the modern school shooting. Can you give me your opinion on the use of legislation to mitigate firearms access to those who should not have access? How would you weight the effectiveness of cultural / community / family protocols vs. legislative mechanisms vs. an integration of both?