Legal, emotional consequences discussed following school bomb threat
CROCKETT COUNTY, Tenn. — We brought a story to you Wednesday night of another bomb threat regarding a local school.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a recurring story all over the country, across our state, and right here in West Tennessee.
The question we ask now is why? What is the reason behind these threats? Why do they seem to be happening over and over again?
Stephen Sutton, Public Information Officer for the Crockett County Sheriff’s Department, shared his insight.
“Our kids are in pain,” Sutton said. “They’re dealing with a lot that the generation before them, or the generation before them, have difficulty in understanding.”
These threats are no laughing matter — this a serious crime that results in serious consequences.
“That’s a crime. It’s a new statute that the General Assembly passed. I believe it took effect July 1,” Sutton said.
As of July 1, 2024, important changes to Tennessee Code Annotated TCA 39-16-517 regarding threats of mass violence on school property have taken effect. […] Originally enacted in 2021 as a Class A misdemeanor, the law has now been elevated to a Class E felony.
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Sutton went on to say that there are more consequences than just legal.
“You know there are emotional consequences. There are family consequences. There’s character consequences, you know, your ability to be trusted,” said Sutton.
So what is the message to our students? Sutton says we need to talk more. We should be invested in how they are feeling and let them know that there is help if they need it.
“The kids, if you’re drowning emotionally, there’s lifeguards on duty. Put your hand up,” Sutton said. “You’re surrounded by lifeguards all day every day. At school, at home, your parents who love you and care about you, your teachers care about you, administration, counselors are available, SRO’s are there because they care.”
Sutton also says that listening and building relationships can go a long way with helping this issue.
In the past, arrests have been made and charges have been filed for those who have made these type of threats.
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