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Just Joking

80% of school shooters tell someone about their plans. But too often, people think they’re “just joking.”
Always take threats of violence seriously.

Watch and Share Our PSA

Watch and Share Our PSA

Watch and Share Our PSA

*** This video contains sensitive content related to gun violence that may be upsetting for some viewers. ***

*** This video contains sensitive content related to gun violence that may be upsetting for some viewers. ***

The gunman who killed 19 children and 2 adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, displayed many warning signs. He bullied younger kids, collected news articles about mass shootings, and posted on social media of his plans to do something that would “put him all over the news.” He also amassed an arsenal of rifles and ammunition. Shortly before the shooting, he texted a friend, telling her he was going to “shoot up an elementary school right now.” Not believing him, she replied “Cool”.

The gunman who killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, had a history of violence toward small animals, expressed enthusiasm about guns and knives, and even began introducing himself as “a school shooter.” He also regularly posted pics of himself holding weapons, one of which he captioned “I want to kill people.” Three days before the shooting he posted a video in which he said: “Today is the day, the day that it all begins, the day of my massacre shall begin…With the power of my AR, you will all know who I am.”
The gunman who murdered 9 people at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, was obsessed with prior mass shootings, including the massacre that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. His social media was filled with pictures of masked gunmen and references to terrorist groups. He left a message on a 4chan message board that read: “Some of you guys are alright. Don’t go to school tomorrow.”

In the months before the shooting that left 5 dead at the Marysville Pilchuck High School in Marysville, Washington, the shooter had flooded his Twitter page with posts that read: “F*** it!! Might as well die now” and “Some s***s gonna go down and I don’t think you’ll like it…” After a break up with his girlfriend he texted her: “Just please talk me out of this” and “The gun’s in my hand.” She told him to leave her alone. He then wrote: “I set the date. Hopefully you regret not talking to me. You have no idea what I’m talking about. But you will.” And then: “Bang bang, I’m dead.”

For months, the shooter at Townville Elementary School in Townville, South Carolina, had posted threatening messages on Twitter, including: “You’re gonna piss me off…And then some s***s gonna go down and I don’t think you’ll like it…” An hour before the shooting, he posted a video in which he said: “You got to have your hair straight wherever you go shoot someplace up, you know. You got to look fabulous.”

To show the absurdity of treating threats as a joke, some comedians pitched in to help.

To show the absurdity of treating threats as a joke, some comedians pitched in to help.

2023 set a record for the most mass shootings in US history. Which makes it more important than ever that we all take threats of gun violence seriously.

2023 is on track to set a record for the most mass shootings in US history. Which makes it more important than ever that we all take threats of gun violence seriously.

LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS

And if you see a sign, always say something.

1. Suddenly withdrawing from friends, family and activities (including online or via social media)
2. Bullying, especially if targeted towards differences in race, religion, gender or sexual orientation
3. Excessive irritability, lack of patience, or becoming angry quickly
4. Experiencing chronic loneliness or social isolation
5. Expressing persistent thoughts of harming themselves or someone else
6. Making direct threats toward a place, another person, or themselves
7. Bragging about access to guns or weapons
8. Recruiting accomplices or audiences for an attack
9. Directly expressing a threat as a plan
10. Cruelty to animals

You can save lives. School shootings are not inevitable. They can be prevented. But it takes people like you to help us do it.
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Know the Signs

In 4 out of 5 school shootings, at least one other person had knowledge of the attacker’s plan but failed to report it. Our comprehensive Know the Signs guide teaches you how to spot warning signs and get help.

Say Something

Learn how to intervene by telling a Trusted Adult or using our Say Something Anonymous Reporting System.

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Support Our Mission

Your 100% tax-deductible gift will provide critical funding to expand our programs and research. With the support of generous people like you, we can protect millions more students across America.

Make The Promise

Join our movement of over 10 million caring, compassionate people who have made the Promise. “I promise to do all I can to protect children from gun violence.”

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Learn the Signs

In 4 out of 5 school shootings, at least one other person had knowledge of the attacker’s plan but failed to report it. Our comprehensive Know the Signs guide teaches you how to spot warning signs and get help.

Say Something

Learn how to intervene by telling a Trusted Adult or using our Say Something Anonymous Reporting System

Comment icon
Website icon

Support Our Mission

Your 100% tax-deductible gift will provide critical funding to expand our programs and research. With the support of generous people like you, we can protect millions more students across America.

Make the Promise

Join our movement of over 10 million caring, compassionate people who have made the Promise. “I promise to do all I can to protect children from gun violence.”

pinky promise icon

School Shootings Are Preventable When You Know The Signs.

Prevent Gun Violence

Prevent Gun Violence

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People at risk of hurting themselves or others often show warning signs before an act of violence takes place. Learn how to spot the signs and how to do something about it, safely. Please fill out the form to receive our comprehensive Know the Signs Guide.

Get our Know The Signs Guide

Get our Know The Signs Guide

  • By providing your mobile phone number, you opt in to receive calls and texts from Sandy Hook Promise. Text STOP to 79775 to opt out, HELP for help. Message & data rates may apply. Privacy policy.
Know the signs brochure cover

Prevent Gun Violence

People at risk of hurting themselves or others often show warning signs before an act of violence takes place. Learn how to spot the signs and how to do something about it, safely. Please fill out the form to receive our comprehensive Know the Signs Guide.

Get our Know The Signs Guide

Get our Know The Signs Guide

  • By providing your mobile phone number, you opt in to receive calls and texts from Sandy Hook Promise. Text STOP to 79775 to opt out, HELP for help. Message & data rates may apply. Privacy policy.

Share This Page

Guns are now the number one cause of death for kids under 19. It’s more important than ever to know the signs and speak up when seeing the potential for violence and other harmful acts. Share the “Just Joking” PSA on social media with #ProtectOurKids #SaySomethingSavesLives.

Share This Page

Guns are now the number one cause of death for kids under 19. It’s more important than ever to know the signs and speak up when seeing the potential for violence and other harmful acts. Share the “Just Joking” PSA on social media with #ProtectOurKids #SaySomethingSavesLives.

Why You Should Take Action Now

In almost every documented case of active shooters, warning signs were exhibited prior to their deadly attacks. When you “know the signs” and get help, you can prevent a tragedy.

That’s why our proven programs train youth and adults to identify warning signs of school shootings and other harmful acts. What’s more, they are given the tools and guidance they need to be upstanders – to stop the violence before it happens.

More than 21 million people nationwide have been trained in Sandy Hook Promise’s proven Know the Signs programs. Focusing on prevention helps end the epidemic of school shootings and violence.

Through these programs, Sandy Hook Promise has averted multiple school shooting plots, teen suicides, and countless other acts of violence in schools and communities.

Sources of the Real Shooter’s Statements

  1. “First day of school. Last day of your lives.” – Perry Hall High School Shooting, Perry Hall, MD. CBS News
  2. “Some s***s gonna go down. And I don’t think you’re gonna like it.” – Townville Elementary School Shooting Shooting, Townville, SC. WTGS News
  3. “I am going to kill all of you.” – Cape Coral High School Shooting Threat, Cape Coral, FL. WINK News
  4. “I want to kill people.” “Today is the day, the day my massacre begins.” – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting, Parkland, FL. CNN
  5. “Bang Bang – you’re dead” “I set the date. You’re going to regret not talking to me.” “You have no idea what I’m talking about. But you will.” “Please talk me out of this. The gun’s in my hand.” – Marysville Pilchuck High School Shooting, Marysville, VA. Newsweek
  6. “Fair warning, Stay home tomorrow if you wanna live.” – Seen in tips by the Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center.
  7. “Some of you guys are alright. Don’t go to school tomorrow.” – Umpqua Community College Shooting, Roseburg OR. The Guardian
  8. “I’m gonna shoot up an elementary school right now.” – Robb Elementary School Shooting, Uvalde, TX. Associated Press
  9. “(After all the name calling) I’ll go down as the best school shooter in history.” – Seen in tips by the Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center.

*** This video contains sensitive content related to gun violence that may be upsetting for some viewers. ***