Some of them are real. Parents cannot be criticized for attempting to shield their children from violence, and it s understandable that some of them believe they haven t been given enough information, early enough, to know what the right choice might be. Teens, like adults, are innocent until proven guilty, and until they re actually charged, as adults, with a serious crime, their identities are protected. Police and educators understandably are reticent to provide explicit information about the threats, because they know that such attention can prompt copycat activities by other alienated students. That s what makes the cycle so vicious.
Life holds few guarantees.
Much as we d like to believe otherwise, no one can promise that our children will be safe from harm while they re out in the real world. The best anyone can do is to make a calm decision based on available information. Someday you ll understand. Someday someone will make threatening noises toward a person you love. You won t know whether to believe them or not, but your heart will race, your stomach will hurt, and you ll have to make a decision.