New Gun Violence PSA Takes on POV of School Shooter

New Gun Violence PSA Takes on POV of School Shooter

“Point of View” takes place during a regular high school day, showing the events through the eyes of a school shooter. The shooter is silent, ignored and bullied by turns before finally bursting into a school auditorium with a gun and yelling “Look at me!” while his peers recoil in fear.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • December 11, 2018

A new PSA from Sandy Hook Promise takes on the point of view of an ostracized and angry student to show viewers the warning signs of a potential school shooter. The new video follows last year’s PSA, “Tomorrow’s News,” which played on the familiar post-tragedy news cycle to show the importance of speaking up about signs of potential gun violence.

The video, embedded below, was released Monday, four days before the sixth anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which left 20 children and six adult staff members dead. Sandy Hook Promise was founded and is led by several family members of the victims.

“Point of View” takes place during a regular high school day, showing the events through the eyes of a school shooter. The shooter is silent, ignored and bullied by turns before finally bursting into a school auditorium with a gun and yelling “Look at me!” while his peers recoil in fear.

“Most people only notice a shooter once it’s too late,” reads text at the end of the video. “See the signs and stop a shooting before it happens.”

Sandy Hook Promise hopes that the PSA, part of its “Know the Signs” program, will raise awareness of the warning signs of a potential school shooter, such as a fascination with weapons, threats of violence and feelings of extreme isolation.

The organization stresses that one warning sign by itself doesn’t mean that a person is planning to enact violence, but it’s important to speak up if many connected signs are observed over time.

“By knowing the signs” of potential gun violence, “you have the power to intervene and get help for that person,” according to Sandy Hook Promise. “Your actions can save lives.”

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now

  • Turning Surveillance Into Strategy: AI’s Role in Driving Proactive Security

    Video surveillance has long been part of the campus safety toolkit, indispensable for investigating security incidents after they occur and a valuable tool for proactive deterrent. Read Now

  • A.C. Camargo Cancer Center Enhances Security, Patient Care with Help from Advanced Video Surveillance

    A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, a leading oncology treatment center in São Paulo, Brazil recognized for its history of innovation, today announced that its partnership with Axis Communications has produced savings of more than $2 million over its first two years, all of which will be reinvested in patient care. A.C. Camargo has deployed more than 2,000 state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras throughout the Center’s corridors, complex care units, and parking lots, embracing a more holistic approach to security that emphasizes patient and employee safety along with improved quality of service. Read Now

  • 2025 Secure Campus Award Winners Announced

    Campus Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 Secure Campus Award winners. Twenty companies are being recognized this year for products that help keep education and business campuses safe. Read Now

Most   Popular