Facebook Post Suggesting Security Measure for Students Goes Viral After Florida Shooting
The post, which as been shared over 1.3 million times, is a photo of a rubber door stop and a story of an aunt urging her nieces to keep it in their backpacks.
- By Sydny Shepard
- February 21, 2018
The shooting in Parkland, Florida last week has created some somber tones on social media in the days following the incident that killed 17 people and injured nearly a dozen more. Parents, teachers and students have flooded to their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram profiles to share their feelings, give their opinions and share advice.
One post to go viral after the Feb. 14 shooting was a security measure suggestion from Katie Conelis on Facebook. The post, which as been shared over 1.3 million times, is a photo of a rubber door stop and a story of an aunt urging her nieces to keep it in their backpacks.
"After the Sandy Hook shooting, I gave both my nieces this little door stop to always keep n their backpacks," Cornelis said. "It truly pained me when I handed it to them, and I didn't want to scare them, but it was out of love and they understood."
Cornelis explained to that the rubber door stop could be used in an active shooter situation to keep the door closed quickly without having to barricade it with furniture or have a person holding it closed.
"If a gunman shoots out the door lock, it ill still keep the door from opening and may just buy you some time," Cornelis said. "I'm really sad posting this, but a security expert shared this tip with me so I wanted to pass it along."
The post was positively received with many people commenting how inexpensive the item was, but could potentially save dozens of lives in the worst possible scenario.
About the Author
Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.