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Just Joking

Watch and Share the "Just Joking" PSA

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

 

*** 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*** 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.”

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.

Comedian Wanda Sykes on stage
Wanda Sykes
Comedian Billy Eichner on stage
Billy Eichner
Comedian Margaret Cho on stage
Margaret Cho
Comedian Iliza Shlesinger on stage
Iliza Shlesinger
Comedian David Cross on stage
David Cross
Comedian Roy Wood Jr. on stage
Roy Wood Jr.
Comedian Rachel Bloom on stage
Rachel Bloom
Comedian Jay Pharoah on stage
Jay Pharoah
Comedian Caitlin Reilly on stage
Caitlin Reilly

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.

Sources of the Real Shooters' 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.

The "Just Joking" PSA Educator Guide for the Classroom

The PSA gives educators a valuable tool for their high school classrooms. It can help students understand their role in building safer communities. Above all, Youth Upstanders can help prevent acts of violence.

 

As Trusted Adults, we can help high school students with this cause. Adding these classroom activities to your school routine will empower students that extends beyond school. Help develop Upstanders committed to making their school and community safer for everyone. Get the Guide.

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