Parkland Florida needs to mourn the murdered and injured. They don’t need media and agenda-driven jackals all over the place.

It should not be necessary to ask people to stop attention-whoring on top of a mass murder. But it is. This is to the media, politicians, NAMI, Shannon Watts and the Pro-2A fools who follow that vacuous bint. As Victory Girl Deanna said here, this is already happening. And as Toni said here, even with precautions, the murderer was not stopped. He was probably mentally ill but that does not fit the 2A or No Gunz agendas, so it will be ignored.

And there is a time and place to discuss mental illness, the absolute failings of a system designed to protect that does not work. But that time is not the present. There are families who need support both financial and spiritual. Not Shannon Watts going for a Ghoul gold. Let me put this as clear as day: to the well-meaning and attention whores alike, my advice is simple. Step back, shut up for a minute, and let Parkland families help their wounded and mourn the murdered.

Facebook and Twitter are not much better. And it has been less than 24 hours since the murderer acted. Not using his name. What we know is a former student walked into the high school that expelled him with a gun and started shooting. We know there were 16 wounded and 17 murdered. The suspect is in custody.

Some 15 hours earlier, the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook erupted as authorities say a 19-year-old man with a troubled past and an AR-15 rifle stalked the halls of Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

This is from the Sun Sentinel. A local media source. And this dad makes sense to me:

“I’m freaking out,” her father said. “This is crazy, this stuff shouldn’t be going on in these schools. People are crazy. I don’t know what goes on through these people’s minds these days, it’s a scary thing. It’s one of those things – you don’t want to put a metal protector and treat them like prisoners but they have to figure something out. You put your kids in school and it’s supposed to be a safe place and this stuff happens all the time.”

Arm chair quarterbacking is inappropriate as hell at this point. Broward County and the feds are going to investigate the hell out of this shooting. Please don’t diagnose from afar and don’t us this to rant about adoption or autism or bullying or whatever other cause du jour you are espousing.

What can you do? Support the families. Donate to help them cover the expenses for their murdered and wounded loved ones. I am sure banks will have accounts set up and gofundmes will be there. Help with hospital bills and rehab expenses. If you are in or near Parkland, mow the lawn, drop off a meal or some groceries to feed the pets and humans. The things the families are not able to do now.

At home? If you see something hinky, say something. If there is a kid that is more than a little quirky, ask questions and take threats seriously. Call the cops and call the school. The murderers do not quietly go about their business: Columbine had 2 kids from intact families storing ammo and explosives in the garage under a tarp. Think about that for a second. My folks would have asked what was under the tarp at the very least.

If you really care about the mentally ill, ask county mental health where you can volunteer. Or donate to these groups so they can keep the lights on. In Michigan there are clubhouses where the mentally ill learn to function in society who would love your donations of time and cash. And, oh, read Toni’s post.

If I were the benevolent and all-wise Empress of the Universe, what steps would I take:

1. Armed school resource officer at every school.

2. Gun safety classes in middle school.

3. Video cameras strategically placed outside and inside school with dedicated security personnel.

4. After first bell, all doors at school locked from the outside. Video confirmation before admittance.

5. Mandatory mental illness reporting. Teachers are mandatory reporters for abuse, why not mental illness.

6. Finally, martial arts classes in physical education. Learning to grab another person is difficult (I know), if kids learned basic martial arts in school, they would be more empowered.

I would add training for teachers, school counselors and administrators from people like Wedgewood to know the difference between emo and homicidal. Or between socially inept and dangerous. Because teachers are the best friend or worst enemy to a kid. Believe me, the best and worst are remembered. And stop lionizing Gifted and Talented kids and teach all your students. But again this is a conversation down the road.

There is plenty of time for conversations about school safety, firearms safety, the mentally ill, and all the other topics that will come up. For now, let Parkland and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mourn their dead and support the survivors. It should not be that hard.