Okay, so, let’s just get this out of the way: school shootings are, like, the most selfish and cruel thing ever. Seriously, instead of dealing with their issues, these shooters drag innocent kids, teachers, and families into their rage spiral. It’s not just tragic — it’s like, peak entitlement. Experts keep digging into the motives, and honestly? It’s a cocktail of anger, pain, and twisted attention-seeking.
First off, let’s start with the obsession with weapons. Many shooters are, like, super into guns, violent media, or online spaces where toxic ideas get hyped. And in the U.S.? Access to firearms is so easy it’s almost, like, casual. Other countries with stricter laws don’t have this endless cycle of massacres. Australia and the UK clamped down after their tragedies, and surprise — school shootings basically stopped. Meanwhile, America’s political response is still “thoughts and prayers.” Ugh.
Second, a lot of shooters are fueled by personal grievances. Like, they think the whole world has wronged them — classmates bullied them, teachers ignored them, or society just didn’t “get” them. But instead of, you know, therapy or TikTok venting like normal teens, they literally pick up a gun. Cruel much?
Then comes mental health struggles show up big time. Many have dealt with depression, suicidal thoughts, or deep trauma. But here’s the tea: most people with mental health issues are not violent. So let’s not even try that excuse. Still, for shooters, their inner chaos sometimes explodes outward — and it’s devastating.
And omg, the thirst for fame is real. Some of these people literally want to be remembered, even if it’s for something horrific. Researchers call it the “contagion effect” — like, one shooting gets wall-to-wall coverage, and suddenly copycats are out here treating Columbine like some twisted fan club. That’s not only pathetic, it’s dangerous.
Then there’s ideology. Some shooters are motivated by racism, misogyny, or extremist beliefs. Incel culture? White supremacist forums? Yeah, it’s gross, but it’s part of the picture. And honestly, choosing to murder because you hate women or minorities? It’s beyond selfish — it’s pure cruelty disguised as some warped mission.
The U.S. Secret Service has even found that most shooters were going through some kind of personal crisis — a breakup, a family fight, or school discipline — right before the attack. So, like, instead of sulking or journaling, they turned their pain outward. That’s not bravery, it’s cowardice.
And here’s the wild part: they usually give hints. This is called “leakage.” They rant online, drop creepy hints to friends, or post dramatic stuff before the attack. But too often, people ignore it. Prevention depends on listening, because red flags are usually flying way before shots are fired.
At the end of the day, no matter what motivates them, school shooters are choosing cruelty over community. They’re choosing violence over vulnerability. And they’re shattering lives just to make their pain someone else’s problem. That’s not justice, it’s selfishness on steroids.
So yeah — the motives are complicated: anger, mental health struggles, a craving for notoriety, extremist poison, and life crises. But the bottom line? None of it justifies turning schools into war zones. Kids deserve safety, not trauma. And America deserves more than recycled condolences from politicians who won’t act.
Because let’s be real: thoughts and prayers don’t stop bullets.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
Where red flags get ignored, cruelty takes center stage — Valley Girl News calls it out so nobody can pretend it’s normal.
