Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz earned 'sharpshooter' badge: ROTC teacher | LiveNOW from FOX

[@cefran667]

How can a student that attends a special school for emotional/behavior disorders (ebd) even be considered to join a marksmanship class?😡Especially when his counselor specifically stated that joining NJROTC was a bad idea… I’m sickened by the all of the red flags that everyone ignored…😢

[@deviantlord142]

Because it came down to him behaving well in class and passing the tests which he did. If all students who had emotional or behavioral disorders (which includes quite a lot of kids in high school) weren’t allowed to participate in extracurricular activities, then imagine the legal issues that would arise from that.

[@RobbieStacks90]

There's no correlation between his joining a marksmanship class and the shooting. He was already playing violent video games and watching television shows and movies that promoted gun violence. You remind me of this one young woman whom I worked with who made the same faulty associations. In the wake of the Uvalde shooting in the spring, she had one of her students, a socially awkward South American kid, undergo a psychological evaluation because she reported to his parents that he was disturbed, when all he did was express ridiculous but harmless anarchic views. I even overheard her trying to bait him into saying sociopathic things by asking him questions about "whether it's ok to hurt a bunch of people because they don't agree with you". I left that job for a higher-paying position, but women like her are dangerous. They perpetuate the kind of ignorant thinking that is pervasive among people with average and lower levels of intelligence.

[@cefran667]

You need to really look into all of the red flags there were there that some people ignored. The book “ Why Meadow died” written by the father of one of the victims explains all of the issues. He was a documented danger, not just a concern of an overly paranoid teachers “hunch”. The fact that he was transferred to a special ebd school is telling. It takes A Lot of bad behavior to get an ebd student transferred to another school. I’m just saying it’s so sad his ebd school counselor advised against him joining NJROTC, but the staff at MSD ( which he was expelled from) never got the memo😢

[@CatMan_7]

Do you think this kid is going to get the Death Penalty?

[@cefran667]

I realize this is only another sad piece to a very tragic puzzle.

[@uMADden]

JROTC is one of the best programs to have in a high school, please don’t blame this class that a psychopath went to.

[@angel_ae8655]

Yea didn't matter if he was in a class or not he was going to do it either way

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

Thank you! I had to scroll all the way down here to find one intelligent comment. Peace.

[@kait6994]

I was never in the program, and wouldn’t have wanted to be. But I agree with you completely. And would go as far as to argue that in the cases of kids who do NOT have suicidal/homicidal thoughts, but still suffer from behavioral or emotional problems, it can actually be helpful. I have heard of cases where judges have offered someone who committed crimes (obviously not murder or other really horrific crimes) the option of prison or the Army.

[@mirupacha]

JROTC MURDERED those 17 People; NRA Murdered those 17 People. Pro-gun politicians MURDERED those students & teachers; gun manufacturers MURDERED those young people & school teachers. Mr Cruz pulled the trigger, yes.

[@Nonowness]

@@angel_ae8655 nonsense, there he learned ho to handle the weapon and hit targets. School shooters only exist in the usa, ask yourself why? Because americans adore weapons and teach their kids its cool to have them.

[@lieke3043]

I will never understand America’s obsession with lethal weapons to the point the they teach children with not fully developed brains how to use those… I have never seen a gun, besides behind a very thick glass in a museum, in my life. And I like to keep it that way.

[@RSmith-er9yl]

As an American I say this also - American's no longer understand the 2nd Amendment which in its entirety is as follows: "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." it's been bastardized by special interests (NRA) and manufactures. Pure and simple - profits.

[@CoCoGemel]

Where are you from?

[@brinamontecino869]

same. I’m from Brazil and I find it bizarre how obsessed people are in the U.S with lethal weapons 😞

[@natstar7864]

It's always good when they don't go overseas to use their weapons and instead use it on themselves.

[@Gray.1063]

I can give many valid reasons why we allow this. One reason is to prepare teens for the military in future. And the most valid is, if you live in a country where guns are legal, would you rather schools not teach kids proper gun safety and control early in their lives or no gun safety lessons at all and let them buy guns without any knowledge at all on them at all, becoming more of a hazard to themselves and others around them? There are many more valid reasons. You won’t agree or understand because u have no idea.

[@thirdborn333]

I was in JROTC in the early 2000’s we weren’t allowed to shoot any type of gun; however, even if we were that wouldn’t make me want to shoot up my school or anybody else. And my mom died before I ever finished high school unexpectedly. Nikolas is just a monster, it’s that simple; no excuses for him!!!🥴

[@AtonalApple]

Yes exactly,no excuses for what he did. I see people defending him saying he was bullied and his mom died. He was awful to his mom. HE was the real bully.

[@cynthiaandena3350]

Agree with u. Sorry to hear u lost of ur mother so young.

[@amy109]

@Ceo of racism because normies are indoctrinated and brainwashed 🥴

[@Beaumo66]

Indeed.

[@YoMomma1337]

I was in jrotc around the same time but we had a rifle team (AIRSOFT RIFLE TEAM)

[@chrisfarley6698]

For god's sake just sentence him already. The complete waste of tax dollars on this is ridiculous. He's guilty and now we have to hear from every single third cousin twice removed of every victim. And everyone that has ever past through that state. It's really stupid.

[@JaydakaLightfoot3]

“Third cousin twice removed” LMAO 🤣 you ain’t lying

[@janinedaniell1967]

was thinking the same myself, but didn't want to be unfeeling.... the WHOLE purpose of this "trial" was to give voice and attention to this tragedy.....

[@thememe986]

You are aware of due process right?

[@natstar7864]

Just put him in for life much worse than death because he is so young nothing like being locked in a cage for the rest of his life.

[@afsoon542]

If the police had got to school before he left, they would’ve finished him at the scene!

[@sgregg5257]

This witness was clearly very nervous. From the prosecution, he knows what questions he is going to be asked, but the answers are going to be interpreted in ways out of his control. From the defense, he must assume they are going to bring up Cruz's mental states and he will have to tell the truth about that. Either way, he probably got full use of his antiperspirant today.

[@RobbieStacks90]

Thank you, Mr. KZbin Psychologist. All I took out of this video was that Nikolas Cruz was a very talented shooter. His sharpshooting skills were extraordinary, and he might have had a future in the armed forces if his mental issues could have been addressed sooner. Has anyone been able to get in touch with Angie? We need to know why she spurned him.

[@fargoth391]

@@RobbieStacks90 Anyone who willingly joins the US armed forces has a mental issue to begin with.

[@ToolNin49ersGuy]

@@fargoth391 Why's that? Smh.

[@katrinak7394]

That witness should be nervous, he was a major part of the system that failed all those dead kids. This clown trained Cruz to do what he did, without this idiot kids may not have died.

[@jeremysmith9694]

I don't think he's that nervous. He's just an old guy.

[@debbievarner7103]

How on earth could a troubled teen be enrolled in a class like this, and school knew he was troubled. This scares the HELL out of me, something went terribly wrong from the start. This makes me sick to my stomach. I pray for all the victims that have lost a child/ren in this horrific crime.

[@pyroromancer]

were you not a teenager? every teen has troubles. marksmanship training gives teens tangible discipline to focus and self improve. Lessons they can apply for life. Thousands of teens go through this course without becoming a mass shooter.

[@Hydra11-11]

Bro this dude I actually feel bad for. Probably would have been his friend.

[@dirtydiamond5172]

@@Hydra11-11 even if dude is sorry for what he did, still cant have mass shooters running around

[@Hydra11-11]

There are people who don’t mind at all actually. U see the universe will balance itself out. And what he did is. Much better than some of the people on tv rn have done in the past and only reason they not behind bars is cuz curroption no one talks about. But I believe in reincarnation and karma follows you to death. And death is nothing to fear you are just leaving your vessel back into the universe to learn and grow. All he did was sped that process

[@brandonayala4605]

Goes to show that most people wanna put all the blame on the shooter but not on our support systems that absolutely failed this kid. Mental health services, Law enforcement, the School, Nobody showed Nikolas that they cared for him which definitely is a factor in why he did what he did. Not trying to condone what he did of course, but if we could have only just have empathy for these people when they were showing warning signs, like getting into fights at school, making threats, and stop labeling them as troubled or crazy, and adding to this lifetime of loneliness and rejection they feel, and make our support systems better then they are now, then we can prevent these types of perpetrators from ever getting to a point where they have to go in a murder spree.

[@Mike_Nuhtz]

Why is this dude still alive???

[@philmickey7247]

Networks need higher ratings? Just drag it out?🤔

[@johnhmielewski1230]

High profile case. Cruz is proving every day that the US justice system caters to criminals and you can pretty much do whatever you want here in the USA and live the rest of your life out on the tax payers paying for your room and board, medical, education, cable, internet and other rights they're entitled to no matter how evil the crime.

[@lagout7771]

@Walter Palmer umm he was talking about the shooter

[@MetalHeadRed954]

That’s what I’m saying

[@philmickey7247]

@@johnhmielewski1230 Oh but he's mentally unstable, now and during his massacre. Just a temporary thing.🤬 John Hinckley knows the system.🙄

[@nikkischoessow4847]

I'm sorry but I'm really not I dont believe that anyone should be trained with guns if they have any background history of treatment for mental illness or real history of mental illness.

[@katrinak7394]

Nice way to make sure the gun nuts don't get the mental healthcare the obviously need. No guns is a better way to save lives.

[@christineperez7562]

I agree. He needed mental health care not gun class. Yet this program is a solution along with schools teaching mental health. Everyone has a brain and needs to learn how to take care of yourself. Also schools need to stop feeding our children junk food. They need nutrients to grow a healthy mind and body. That doesn't mean food needs to be tasteless. Salt and sugar are additives not a good group. There are spices and herbs that are good for you.

[@katrinak7394]

@@christineperez7562 Training high school kids to kill -- na fam that isn't anything anyone needs. And junk food doesn't make murderers.

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

Dude, you don't need to be a marksman to murder unarmed people with an AR 15. Also, there was little evidence that Cruz was mentally ill.

[@Goldrefinedthrufire]

I don't believe in learning to shoot a gun at all as a child. They're not living in a war zone or need to hunt to survive.

[@foley15136]

Now he’s earned a “disgusting piece of trash that doesn’t belong in society” badge.

[@Gamingtv23658]

He did something horrible, but the community helped him get to that point and you know it.

[@lizbehrakis]

FOLEY...THAT SHOULD GO TO YOU!

[@cuckertarlson5310]

@@Gamingtv23658 No he's a psychopath he was born that way. His biological sister is a criminal too.

[@evannorton4452]

I heard a Florida judge recently hand down a death sentence by saying to the defendant “not only have you forfeited your right to live among us but you have forfeited the right to live at all”. I think the same applies here.

[@foley15136]

@@Gamingtv23658 I do?

[@mxgp33]

Anyone who thinks death is worse than sitting locked up for the rest of their lives has never spent a day locked up. Rest in peace to all the students and teachers whose lives were taken.

[@dirtydiamond5172]

i spent a night in jail completely wasted, one night is an ok experience, not sure about life there, plus i was drunk af

[@audramuth4147]

Well at least he wouldn’t be wasting our tax dollars giving him hot meals every day

[@bakedbeans5494]

@@audramuth4147 Prison is no hotel.

[@movingsocks579]

Humans are incredibly adaptive. They won't put him in gen pop. In his case, prison would be better than death. It is more about he must go where he sent others than anything else. He loses the privilege of enjoying qualia. It is much deeper than it appears.

[@MayorMcheese12]

@@dirtydiamond5172 prison is different than jail dude

[@dianabraley8307]

So this teacher made him a more precision shooter - which in turn made him a more accurate killer. I know its not the teachers fault - but this is sad. Did he join just to be a more efficient shooter or did he join to get the discipline and good habits of ROTC. I guess all the soft skills went out the window.

[@koltaire5938]

Yeah really doesn’t have much to do with the teacher honestly

[@zombiejoe326]

It's both, to become a great warrior or a great killer you must have discipline

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

Firing a pellet gun is completely different than firing a real gun.

[@elainew2230]

Too bad a weirdo like this was able to buy a gun and ammo.

[@RobbieStacks90]

More precise*, not a "more precision" shooter The comparative form you're looking for is "more precise". You're welcome.

[@focusintegrity8490]

I have nieces, grand niece and granddaughter in ROTC. It's not all shooting, get involved. It provides them things they would never know. The problem was Nikolas Cruz. Three people he shoot were in ROTC and were heroes. When you put the Organization down, it is also putting them down.

[@christineperez7562]

The problem is he needed mental health care not this class. Where is his parents? What was his life like at home. These programs can be a solution to the problem along with mental health care being taught. Everyone has a mental health. They also need fed real food in schools not fried junk. How do brains development grow if they are fed junk.

[@carolbarker8488]

The problem is guns. The last mass school shooting in UK was in 1996, lessons were learned, gun laws made even tighter than before.

[@monkeyxpwner]

@@carolbarker8488 the UK doesn’t have the 2nd amendment, and it has different culture vs the US. You shouldn’t compare 2 countries so simply.

[@brycekerr3985]

@@carolbarker8488 you are the problem

[@chickenwing5863]

@@carolbarker8488 the problem is people...

[@nonombre5409]

Students had shotguns in the back window of their trucks when i was in high school in 1978 and nobody broke in to get the gun. If you got into a fight nobody went and got their guns out of their trucks. The difference between then and now is when I was going to school 80% of households had a mother and a father now 80% of homes is a single mother and the children. High crime neighborhoods are characterized by high concentrations of families abandoned by fathers.

[@anonymousgrowmedia9286]

True they just broke into my truck and broke all the switches off my steering column dirtbags

[@a.garcia8086]

That was my high school exactly all guys had guns in their truck not one ever shot anyone . This is not about guns !!!!!

[@nellieshoals]

You mean black people?? 🙄

[@lavenderblues777]

Agreed - it's sad how many marriages break down these days

[@Gray.1063]

@@nellieshoals of course, someone turns a non race related comment into a race comment. You’re what’s wrong with this world today. Plz, grow tf up. Not everything is directed towards “black people”. It’s people like you that ALWAYS uses the,“because I’m black”, card for no reason when something has nothing to do with that at all. People like you who’s go to excuse is racism and blaming everything on that when possible. I’m so SICK AND TIRED of people like you who are actually the ones making the world turn against each other bc of petty comments like yours.

[@case6189]

So many signs missed by so many people and agencies it’s unreal. Even the resource officer at the school was a complete coward. These kids were let down by everyone.

[@DutchDukeMan]

The fact that everyone knew who the shooter was before it was even announced says enough

[@kait6994]

I hate when defense lawyers ask questions like she is doing in this clip. It’s like she’s trying to pass blame on to the teacher for letting him be in JROTC despite his problems. But this guy seems like a solid guy. Like the type of guy who would have reported red flag behavior if he saw it.

[@iosmotions1348]

Bc it is partially this dudes fault. It's ridiculous that he was allowing Nicholas to participate in the class due to him being mentally unstable. Are u dumb?

[@beyondmeasure9903]

It's their job

[@nikkischoessow4847]

This gun training doesnt belong in any public school.

[@christineperez7562]

I disagree. He said he knew he had mental health issues. That is the problem. He needed mental healthcare not gun training. Gun and safety training is a solution to the problem.

[@pilsnrimgaard2507]

Wow! That must come from sort of personal hatred of gun safety.

[@nikkischoessow4847]

@@pilsnrimgaard2507 no I own a gun and have had proper training as an adult. Teenagers should not be handling guns they go through all kinds of emotional issues and are not all balanced yet They overactive over depression drama and act out. Therss alot more mental illness in young people now more than ever before and those that act like spoiled brats and are not put in their places properly by their fathers and mothers to let them get away with too much. Why and how did that Parkland shooter punk have a gun. You can look at him and see he's a mental case. Seriously!!! They are children. And when drafted that is a sad thing but in some instances they straitened their be out quickly

[@rachellesawyer6523]

What a bizarre irony that he was taught markmanship at the school he went onto be the shooter of a massacre This is hard to believe from another country because in my country marksmanship would never be taught in the school in any way at all

[@stalks1413]

This should have been wrapped up in 1 day in court! Not year's? 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@RobbieStacks90]

Years*, not "year's" Years is a common plural noun in this context, not a possessive.

[@cadespencer6320]

ever heard of due process?

[@tobberfutooagain2628]

MSM made a hero out of this slimeball. Should have been moved to the front of the Schwack Line…

[@karenadashfield9954]

I agree, I know people will argue points of law but the evidence is without doubt or question overwhelming. The families have gone through absolute hell on the day of the incident and ever since. The sentence should not be down to jurors to determine. He went out that day with the means and the intent to kill. The sooner the execture the animal the better. Bad childhood, poor parenting, learning difficulties and the excuse of 'snapping' hold no water. If he's spared the death penalty he'll spend the rest of his life breathing, eating, laughing and generally enjoying the gift of life....in my opinion he deserves to be executed and the sooner the better.

[@sureyabell2082]

@@RobbieStacks90 Okey grammar nazi? You go around reading comments to correct their grammar? We would have understood what he meant anyway. But thanks Sherlock.

[@farf0m3home]

Pubic high school Special Education teacher here. This comment is strictly about Special Education and due process laws and how school districts respond appropriately to students with behavioral needs in the Special Education setting. Throughout researching this trial, I've discovered through a handful of articles (and I'm sure his defense team will bring this up) that Nikolas Cruz had an IEP (and possibly a Behavior Intervention Plan for his EBD) and had been receiving Special Education services since he was in elementary school for an EBD (Emotional Behavioral Disorder) diagnosis. Under IDEA in Sec. 300.8 (c) (4), this is the diagnostic description of a student with EBD and how it adversely affects a child's education: Emotional disturbance means a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child’s educational performance: (A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors. (B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers. (C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances. (D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression. (E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems. In some of the articles that I read, Nikolas had bounced around between two separate schools during his secondary school career due to behavioral conduct issues: Cross Creek and MSD. When a person who is receiving Special Education services turns 18, that person has the right to forfeit all of their SPED services that the district may provide. After dropping out of MSD and trying to re-enroll during his senior year, Cruz was in control of whether he could receive those SPED services and he chose no. That means that this student who was in Special Education had to re-enroll and attend classes in the General Education population because they no longer wanted/qualified for those services. The re-enrollment process is long and strenuous for students with intellectual/behavioral disabilities. He would have needed to provide all of the enrollment paperwork requirements (registration forms, copy of his birth certificate, proof of residence, FERPA-HIPPA records if transferring from another school, etc). The only way that he could get those services back would be for an IEP team to meet and schedule a reevaluation meeting with a school psychologist and have them (and an SLP if he has a language disorder) perform evaluation reports. This process alone would take weeks just to get him back in school. Not to mention rewriting an out-of-compliance IEP at this point. And this is all after his mother had passed away and he had NO guardian/surrogate parent helping him navigate all of this. This is insanity. There is no way that Nikolas Cruz could confidently complete the courses that he needed in the general education setting after being in SPED FOR YEARS in order to graduate from MSD, which was his preferred choice out of the two schools he attended. Of course he flourished in JROTC. That was probably his favorite class and the best thing that he could be a part of that provided just an OUNCE of structure. These are soft skills that are taught in classes like that *LIFE SKILLS* which aren't as academically rigorous as an inclusion algebra course or a literary transition course. His disability wasn't as apparent or obviously visible in JROTC as it may have been in his other classes. My whole point is this: These types of special population of students fall through the cracks all the time. Why did that school district choose not to follow the law when they had been previously and NOT file a due process complaint and have some resolution session for him. I just don't understand this. You see kids like Nikolas Cruz revoke their consent for special education services all the time. But why aren't there educators or districts talking about more options/providing PD courses and solutions for educators and IEP case managers for these types of forgotten students? We have to look at Nikolas Cruz's case from all sorts of odd angles. It seems to me, that while his actions are in NO way excusable regardless of his disability/diagnosis, this kid had severe school wounding and needed to be placed in a restrictive learning environment of some sort so he could successfully finish and graduate high school. So in his frustration, on top of comorbid diagnoses of EDB, autism, a language disorder, AND the passing of his mother, the ONLY advocate that he had left, he decides to return to the school he never graduated from and shoot 34 people killing 17 of them. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this four years later.

[@roxiegs348]

Great observations. He was failed by the educational system when it mattered the most. I do not blame JROTC at all for what he did. If anything that was probably the best class for him. It was structured, led by retired military which are strict and it was probably the only place he actually felt normal. Marksmanship is not about killing, Markmanship is exactly what first sergeant stated. If anyone thinks that this was a precursor for him to killing people you know nothing about JROTC. This guy would’ve committed the same crime whether or not he had been in a marksmanship class. When you want to kill, you find a way to kill. It has been proven over and over again.

[@farf0m3home]

@@roxiegs348 Well said. That class was the BEST thing that he could've possibly been enrolled in during his time at MSD. And it's s shame that it wasn't an outlet that ultimately could've pulled him out of a really dark place and given him some kind of purpose with opportunity. Unfortunately, his disability would've disqualified him from joining the military, which probably would've helped him as well.

[@stephaniesmith5974]

You said it. Too many slip through the cracks. Then catastrophe. The defense could use your diagnosis to aid him (I’m not saying you are at all excusing him) but in reality he’s perhaps just a product of a failed system. I think his kind of evil was embedded very early.

[@farf0m3home]

@@stephaniesmith5974 It will be interesting to see what the defense has put together, definitely. I'll be watching!

[@skiyogagirl]

I agree with some things you have stated…BUT he would have had the paperwork in place for the school year 2017/18 BEFORE his mother died. Also, he was no longer in this class when he committed the crime, nor at MSD. I do think navigating the whole IEP system is very difficult to navigate. I had a child that required an IEP and when she was doing well, at the beginning of her senior year, the school system wanted to take it away from her. I had to explain how this was a situation of an IEP working and that her disabilities had not disappeared and she still needed the accommodations. She did continue on an IEP which then followed her to college.

[@homeschoolmomofone2497]

Pay attention to what she said when she asked if the teacher was aware of his IEP (which is special education for those who don't know-IDEA 2004) that his eligibility was language impairment and Emotional Disturbance for services and supports. The teacher claims that he saw a copy of the plan prior to him being in his class. I can honestly say with my experience with my own child being in special education that is a bold face lie because every school year I had to write emails to every one of my child's teacher letting them know our child had a IEP on file and had to go to the front office to access it because most of the time they didn't have a clue. The parent has to be the one to advocate because teachers and staff are complacent now. Most of you are seeing this same thing play out in Texas now. Sorry I am not buying that not one minute. Why wasn't this psychologist in the IEP meeting and why wasn't her recommendation not put in the IEP about him not taking ROTC AND why wasn't his ASD not evaluated or serviced within his IEP?

[@Scotts_Pets]

The weird joking side comments by some of these lawyers is slightly annoying and def not necessary.

[@christineperez7562]

Yes

[@MissOhio1980]

Sometimes a little comedic relief is needed. This is such a serious thing sometimes you have to laugh so you don't cry.

[@davidrouleau6254]

Defense lawyer tried to get the teacher to say he was emotionally unstable. Didn't work.

[@Nonowness]

well he actually admit that he knew that Nikolas suffered from autism and had social and emotional problems. And of cause he would not take on any responsibility. As all the osthers did not do either. The FBI knew about him, the police knew about him, the weapon seller knew about him, they all failded

[@ginagordy6290]

I don't think they need to have this in schools really were have to meany shooting know , sad very sad

[@wilfriedbony19]

Very few kids take JROTC classes. Also, the vast majority of American schools are completely SAFE. This was a tragic day but it does not define all of America’s schools

[@Recipediva2023]

what's taking so long for this monster to be sentenced? It's sickening how someone could do this without any regard for human life ..

[@claycollins8973]

They're trying to kill him, unlike him other people take that responsibility seriously

[@Pyromattic777]

But at the same time alot of people are feeling the way of not killing him that we should as a community help to heal Nikolas Cruz

[@berniebernhardt1898]

I can't believe the defense is even trying. The evidence piled against him is enough for him to see the death penalty.

[@ajnunez8788]

What if we want him to rot in prison 😒

[@ajnunez8788]

@Sheldon he probably wants to die tho… that’s the thing.

[@ChunkOcoal]

@@ajnunez8788 he definitely doesn’t want to die. If he wanted to die, he would’ve killer himself, or shot at the police. He is such a coward he’s too scared to die

[@tylermckinley4014]

It’s their job. They have to try lol.

[@jackmihoff3669]

The defence work to get paid yingYang the have families to

[@LuismedinaDJ]

They sound like because he has these problems what he did wasn’t a big deal. It’s crazy how that lawyer in the end tries to make you feel bad for him. It’s insane

[@dadon6055]

That's their job though..

[@3-2bravo49]

Sharpshooter badge means nothing. There are three of them. The basic one, sharpshooter, and expert. So he was a little more than adequate, that's all it means.

[@dirtydiamond5172]

he was nuts with his guns. even his brother said after they arrested him, he was like, now you cant even own a gun anymore, dude

[@RobbieStacks90]

He received the expert badge. Cruz was a basically a super soldier.

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

Exactly. See? His goal was twenty people; he only got 17. So, well, still needed some improvement. Hey, just kidding folks! Now, to get serious, it does show that as a high school student, he didn't just pick up an AR and go bang. He was at least a competent shooter.

[@dirtydiamond5172]

@@JohnSmith-ct5jd but the truth is people like killing people dont they... not their own relatives, right, but strangers. they just can't, right, that's why videogames sell so well. i mean they can but they gonna kill them for it. like they prob gonna kill NC

[@kait6994]

True. Which is why school shooters like guns like the AR-15. Then can spray bullets. And if they hit someone, especially a small child (like in elementary shootings), they can kill with ease and zero training.

[@nikkischoessow4847]

Oh this rifle training has no place in high school. Wow I believe alot of young people have mental illness. Until they pass the stage of mid to late twenties and should be watched closely as they grow they need to pass the mental illness stage. Something of course can rise in later stages of life but t hff ere are too many loose cannons that are young and left unchecked. Just because they are young they are not innocent

[@MissOhio1980]

You're exactly right I don't know why all these old rules apply anymore.. this is sick this country is sick

[@ericklein5927]

Thumbs up.. if ready for sentencing

[@cynthiaandena3350]

Thumbs up. The death penalty.

[@inactivemogul403]

To be good at something you ACTUALLY like to do , is not hard to do at all. To protect yourself from evil though, well that's a whole other side of things now isn't it. 🤷‍♂️

[@investigativeoutcomes9343]

if everyone was armed this guy would not have gotten two steps, schools are like chicken coups surrounded by foxes, farmers armed with rifles protect chicken coups, at least in america, i guess in europe they just stand there with a stupid look on their face.

[@oldaccount5217]

Doesn’t look very sharp to me. Like the time he said, “everyone else is the idiot”

[@anapg2]

How does knowing this help? I don’t think the families of the victims want to know that he was a “sharp shooter”.

[@dijonmustard549]

It proves he knew how to use a gun and knows gun safety it proves he was of sound mind.

[@michellenainkristinabusch1221]

It shows that the shooter wasn't unable to focus, move, etc. Proves that he was calculated

[@Vamalways]

I earned the expert marksman badge and so did my husband. JROTC is the reason I met my husband. They do not have real ammunition. It's basically a pellet rifle powered by a Pneumatic pump. He would have done what he was going to do even without the influence of JROTC. Blame the person not the class.

[@Centerpointless]

Feel very sorry for that old guy! He never would have imagined… also I can’t believe how a 19 yo kid can walk in a store and buy a assault rifle in the USA

[@mariaa.5829]

19 is an Adult

[@zualapips1638]

@@mariaa.5829 Under the law... realistically speaking a 19 year old shouldn't even be able to purchase a gun. There's a reason why you can't drink until 21.

[@Kage.M]

@@zualapips1638 nah you should be able to buy a gun at 18 :)

[@FishingtonBurpPuzzle]

Yes, I do not know how many charges he had under his care. But he just did not seem to know or understand the absolute wreck he was handling. He provided all and pretty strict safety and responsible training but no signs were detected and also his peers never picked up anything. It is so terribly upsetting and I pray for the relatives who lost beloved children to what seems a mad rampage.

[@backhomeprepper]

JROTC uses a .177 cal. air rifle for qualifying. 300 pellets fired down range at a target 10 meters away. To earn Marksman you need to fire from the Standing, Kneeling, and Prone and hit 175-187 out of 300, to earn Sharpshooter you must hit 188-230 out of 300, and to get Expert you must also hit 290-300. They are making it out to look like the kid trained on an M-4 at 50-300-meter targets. I suppose any kid that is a paintball champion is a natural-born killer as well. This kid has serious mental issues that need to be treated. Everyone that should have done something dropped the ball. If he was reported nobody that did so followed up on it.

[@kimberlyharing8535]

None of this is even relevant. It’s my understanding he didn’t need any skills for what he did. He just shot through walls and windows hoping he hit someone. He was a coward when he murdered all those beautiful souls just like he is a coward in the courtroom, plugging his ears when audio is played, never showing any remorse for his actions. I think he is a sociopath that is enjoying the fact he is alive and he is putting all the loved ones of the people he murdered through this for years

[@tareesacarpenter3945]

I agree Kimberly, I have watched a few of these videos and not a single tear drop from his eyes, even when his lawyer next to him shed a few tears it didnt even phase him.

[@Nonowness]

Your comment is insane. They learn in these kind of training to use and love guns. Only the usa has school shooters, wake up!

[@christineclark2479]

How is NC physical presence alone not a red flag? So he walks into a gun store and the guys are just A -okay with a guy like this? Do gun stores need a woman and her keen intuition on site to pick up on these red flags?

[@JMane3000]

Is that how you really feel about Men? Lol

[@JMane3000]

There is no way to prevent these situations from happening in this case specificly turning down Sales because of a personal opinion of an individual isn't ideal. BTW females work in Gun stores

[@akumabazooka9169]

So you just generalize all men as sociopathic, gun loving, murderers? Turn us down for a sale just coz we're a man... Really. Your sexism and misandry are showing.

[@redjuice02]

did you watch the testimony of the guy who sold him the gun?

[@lilirishgrl]

The mother did call and say not to sell the guns to him. But didn’t give a good enough reason I guess. :(

[@Monaty2912]

Why would they teach high school students about guns and shooting? Schools aren't supposed to teach that kind of violence. When they graduate they could enroll in the army. But during high school, that's just insane.

[@RunninUpThatHillh]

Uh no. Back in the day kids brought guns to school and had target practice. These days govt run schools wouldn't allow that. They like the citizenry stupid and as in your case, unaware.

[@angiebold2592]

ROTC has been in high school for decades my. Instead of blaming everybody else for what one mind controlled kid did , maybe you should get to informed better. Or paid attention more in school. ROTC kids were practicing being responsible adults. That kid got PROGRAMNED somewhere. It's done by bloodlines. Our govt. Has programmed children all over the anet. This goes back to the Egyptian days. Maybe you guys could read your Bibles and read history of wars and such of ancient times In a minute you will be staring down the barrel or a resurrected man/ animal hybrid. Fallen angels did all kinds of splicing. It f Cruz is sin a bloodline of my KK itary or scientist or whatever that hit involved with secret societies and such it would autiomatically pass on to his son. Fallen angel have offspring ong us and they have been splicing animal DNA and plant DNA into children. They have ben doing eugenics in secret. All of our leaders in business society politics and medicine education are mixed with a serpent seed from the garden of Eden. Technology is closing in in this world Get Jesus or get Spliced and thrown into Satan's army where you will be programmed to try and kill Jesus .

[@Unknownuser-k2d]

Pellet guns. Huge difference

[@sgregg5257]

@@RunninUpThatHillh Back in what day? And in what location? Certainly not in cities or large towns were there were strict gun prohibitions. in the 1870's some towns required you to turn your fire arms over to the town police prior to you getting to get a hotel or go to a bar. And schools would not be the place where you would find any guns either. People walking around armed were looked down upon. Many states made illegal to travel armed unless you could prove to the State that you were likely to be attacked. Many cities prohibited you from keeping a loaded weapon in your home. So the blanket statement that back in the day people were armed and nobody cared is totally false.

[@zacharyolenick1054]

Most of JROTC is classes on ethics and leadership as well as military customs and courtesy. The type of shooting they did in JROTC is more equivalent to Olympic style shooting, and would not have helped Nikolas Cruz during the school shooting. Watch the video again, and listen carefully to the JROTC teacher speak about it 1/3rd of the way through the video. They literally were shooting a fancy BB gun. I promise you the United States is not the only country that does this. Canada’s Cadet program is a good comparison.

[@chris47374]

The guy with the bad math was just extremely nervous has nothing to do with if he can add or not

[@laurenhall1070]

ROTC should be more aware of kids getting overly excited to use guns!

[@bluerose5695]

i agree x

[@BABiiB420]

Poor guy, he was so nervous, I’m sure he feels immense guilt and he’s being asked so many questions that he has the answers for and he’s being honest but yet he is anxious and I’m sure heart broken. Also, I have mixed feeling because if the red flags were there then why was Nikolas in ROTC 😟 I dunno

[@dirtydiamond5172]

a hit & run driver may feel immense guilt, a drunk driver can, not a school shooter, sure no one wants to rot in prison with not much to do, but he aint sorry, you can kill your god damn spouse or whoever and feel immense guilt, not 17 school kids

[@tiffanyv4205]

It's not the rotc that turned him into a monster. He already was one. Without or with rotc he would have done what he did.

[@BABiiB420]

@@sA-ny2jl That’s not what I was insinuating

[@BABiiB420]

@@tiffanyv4205 I never said rotc turned him into a monster. He was born a monster.

[@Ashley_Mo]

@@BABiiB420 I don’t think those people are trying to accuse or correct you. I think they are just making a statement relevant to your comment in support….

[@janinedaniell1967]

"marksmanship...is a non-agressive shooting sport"- an oxymoron if ever there was one!!!!

[@Glock7eventeen]

They literally used air rifles/bb guns. You’re telling me that’s aggressive shooting?

[@janinedaniell1967]

@@Glock7eventeen ANY type of shooting is aggressive as far as I am concerned....

[@x-ringcustomgunsmithing942]

@@janinedaniell1967 ever watch Olympic shooting events..... Guess not because they are all non aggressive sports in the world of competition shooting. You must remain under control and control breathing and motor skills to carefully shoot targets.

[@michellenainkristinabusch1221]

😂😂😂😂😂 You're a lune. Thanks for the laugh

[@DavidWoods-rk8st]

How could a young man with emotional degrees of childish behaviour get into a marksman class

[@fishermanfan99driver36]

As an rotc cadet, I am disgusted this person was even aloud to wear our uniform

[@Glock7eventeen]

we get it you’re in rotc

[@CoCoGemel]

Allowed*

[@natstar7864]

Since most of you enlist to join wars and that is about killing people the government just claims to be bad in other Countries not even attacking America the only difference is he used his skills on Americans.

[@Alexmartinez70745]

@@Glock7eventeen 😂😂😂😂

[@molxjax1032]

My 5 year old son is autistic he's only starting to talk now and he does get very angry and frustrated and he can attack me when he has his autism meltdowns I worry as he gets older how much stronger and bigger he will be but I love him so much over all he's so lovable and beautiful and so effectionate and i wouldn't change him for the world but they do havr really bad social problems jax doesn't interact in school with the other kids much and can hit out at them and In that video of Nicholas talking on his fonr bot going to do the shooting when he says " yer all the dumb ass" if u listen his speech is very bad at times he can't articulate verbally what he's trying to say but this doesn't make an excuse for murdering all these people but I can c now what lead up to it sad situation so many red flags missed

[@keelyfletcher4782]

My son is also autistic but it doesn't mean they can murder people.

[@Nonowness]

Totally agree, when I saw the video in which he talks about being a shooter he looks like a 12 year old boy asking for attention, and love and speaking out of total desperation. He definitely had not the maturity of a 19 year old. I hope he will not get the death penalty.

[@alfonsopayra]

Why would you give a disturbed teen a gun?????? Wtf

[@kenzieconnolly777]

Echoing the other's comments here, why in the hell would someone with emotional disorders and disordered behaviour ever be a candidate for being placed in a MARKSMANSHIP CLASS. This is akin to teaching terrorists how to fly planes.

[@michellenainkristinabusch1221]

And it was suggested from his previous school that he NOT be allowed to have that class.

[@Eddiesolorio9]

Salvador Ramos is dead and nicklas Cruz is facing life sentence that crazy

[@BIJOU167]

So, let me get this right the USA teaches their kids how to use rifles? I am in the UK and totally stunned

[@Mandy-nt2cs]

No. They USA doesn't 'teach their kids how to use rifles'. Look up what the ROTC is.

[@bluerose5695]

OMG, imagine it??? it is crazy! Thank god UK has none of this

[@monkeyxpwner]

It’s ROTC. It’s basically a military program for kids that want to become Commissioned Officers

[@MissOhio1980]

This is stunning even to us. It didn't used to be this way.

[@bootscooty]

....yea. and don't let any of these gun nut deniers tell you any differently. I mean it's insane. They're going to act like this is a life skill that is valuable

[@dgod62]

this guy doesn't know the different between 2007 & 2017 how the heck would be spot red flags on this student in his class.

[@a.garcia8086]

It was a nervous mistake

[@Joe-qv2jo]

He is old you genius

[@anissa1355]

He must feel awful now. Canada is just so different when it comes to guns and gun law. In school we learned archery 🏹 but I have only seen a few real guns to this day and I was born in the 80’s.

[@khadajhin596]

No reason to fear a gun. A gun cannot do anything. A gun has never killed anyone in human history. Human beings kill eachother. It's why vehicular murder/accidents aren't referred to as "car violence" or drugs killing thousands referred to as "drug violence" it's not politically convenient and it's the goal of the government to dissarm the opposition.

[@suzanneeckstein13]

I'm in canada and I teach my kid's gun safety and the proper way to fire guns we hunt and target shoot

[@Carlos-sy8hz]

And? There was a mass shooting with bow and arrow, there were also two mass shootings recently stopped by law abiding citizens. Guns won't go away, you can stop good people from getting them, but the ones who already break the law will find a way to get them even after you ban them.

[@harryguy76]

Go get your non restricted firearms license. Cost 100 bucks and is easy...if you can't pass it then you have no business playing with firearms.also can't have been charged within 7 years I believe. Then you can go out and buy any non restricted gun you want.

[@Whatorwellsaid21]

I’m sure your Castro wannabe leader is glad Canadians have no guns. “Guns for what?!” exclaimed Fidel Castro in one of his famous speeches. So here we are with a 63 year dictatorship.

[@yoyofd]

So what now ban the rotc ?

[@JaVi-wf1gl]

wow. all there is to say.

[@frankconti6591]

⚠️ ‘No -Mercy’ for ‘Nick Cruz’ !!!⚠️🎭💀

[@Therapistmind]

They need a social worker or counselor to be in this program these days to conduct mental status!

[@HeyJoeHaze]

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools.

[@bramusa]

Yes, because it’s normal to have shooting practice and shooting teams in school. Let’s normalize gun use to our youth. No, that wasn’t why Cruz did what he did. But it is definitely a symptom of the incredibly unhealthy addiction to guns Americans have.

[@codeinecrazyfuture]

How does a man buy a gun with an expired ID?

[@artdude8059]

Both the defence and prosecutors should rest their case. "Enough is enough". The victim's family has been though enough by reliving the unimaginable horrific nightmares, and the jurors as humans couldn't possibly become overwhelmed with emotion.

[@mkb3580]

I still ask…..why is this trial happening?…

[@karelklumpers]

In Netherlands, there has NEVER been a school shooting so far. In Netherlands gun laws are very strict. People owning a gun in Netherlands are almost all criminals. In a lot of cases already know by the police. Most people here don't own a gun. People in US, please start doing the math. You can also make money with stricter gun laws imposed.

[@FlowerPowerWV]

Is it a good thing that most of the guns are owned by criminals?

[@jw2862]

The Netherlands isn’t a great example considering all the protests going on there regarding your farmers.

[@MondoBattlefield]

No thanks to gun control. Taking guns will cause a revolution, rightfully so...

[@wrenbyrd1093]

So you have no way to protect yourself from criminals? That’s not very good……..

[@Nonowness]

We also dont allow guns in Germany and we dont have school shooters.

[@franciscotoscano9924]

Not sure about training school shooters while in school

[@m.0605]

What does learning how to shoot a rifle have to do with "becoming better citizens?"

[@deeasztalos2520]

He did not say that marksmanship would make a better citizen. He was talking about the point of the *whole* program. He said the shooting training was an *extracurricular* activity.

[@dirtydiamond5172]

a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun. staff didnt have any guns at the scene, that's why they got themselves killed tryna be heroes saving noone including their own lives. now if they did, and had a proper training, they could have stopped the sob before so many were shot

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

If you don't know, I can't explain it for you.

[@bumblebear5536]

@@dirtydiamond5172 this whole "What stops a bad guy with a gun? A good gun with a gun" is just nonsense. Yes, there are some instances where armed civilians have stopped shooters, but it's nowhere near as many/common as people using that reasoning try to make it appear to be. Don't get me wrong, I think guns are fun and I enjoy shooting, but trying to act like armed civilians are the only thing that can stop these shooters in these situations is just misleading and uninformed.

[@m.0605]

@@dirtydiamond5172 Depends on who's in charge of the classifying the shooter. Some folks YOU might label as "good guys" have killed lots of people for no, apparent, reason except that they "were having a bad day." NO CIVILIAN has any business being in possession of an assault weapon. Anyone who is fascinated by them could, potentially, become a problem.

[@BigTandJC]

Got to love a class that teaches kids how to be sharp shooters. Pathetic

[@michellenainkristinabusch1221]

It's not a sharp shooter. It's marksmanship

[@susanmiller6023]

OMG. I'm disgusted how on earth was someone with the needs Cruz had/has was he ever allowed to participate in this program. They are developing unstable teenagers on how to be murderers. This guy is totally out of it, this course should be banned. It's partly because of this guy that an unstable boy was encouraged to be a sharpshooter, this is criminal. I'm a special educational trained teacher in the UK and have appeared in course reviews on behalf of students and also on behalf of the colleges I've worked. I've prevented a registered blind student from doing a catering course and placement, I prevented a wheelchair student from doing a catering course and placement and a student who self harmed from joining a catering course and placement in which they were given a set of 15 catering knives. I argued for one student in a wheelchair who wanted to do a hospitality course and placement that even though they were unable to do the service they would be brilliant front of house. One student who had emotional, behavioral difficulties was given a place on a motor vehicle course and he should not have, he damaged cars and on one car he decided to not tighten the wheel nuts to the correct torque setting because he said he 'wanted to see if the wheel would come off while driving at speed'. It's obvious to me that Cruz should never have been granted a place on this course.

[@kait6994]

I have a few issues with your statements here. First, the ROTC programs are meant to teach kids about helping others and being responsible. If this teacher only saw a student who passed his tests and was well behaved in class, how is he expected to be in any way responsible? Many would argue that programs like ROTC are good for kids with behavioral issues bc it can help straighten them out, just like how judges have liked to give people options of prison for smaller crimes or the Army. My only issue is that maybe there should be any teams involving shooting guns, even if they are air rifles. Now on to decisions you made as far as keeping certain students out of certain courses. A blind student and a wheelchair bound student shouldn’t be able to work with knives? What is wrong with you? You sound like you are quite the ableist. I mean, do you think these people aren’t at home cooking their own food? Why would you exclude them from working as chefs, or just in kitchens in general? Next, a student with history of suicidal ideation; has the student ever attempted suicide? Do they currently have a plan? If the answer is no, you are again discriminating against someone. This time it’s just someone with mental health issues. I have had suicidal thoughts before and I used to deliver pizza. Should I have not been allowed to do that job bc of the slight chance I may get suicidal and try to kill myself via a car accident? The only case where what you have done is ok is if the student has expressed a desire to hurt other people. You really should not be allowed to be a teacher.

[@kait6994]

@DawnTheFoxUwU she’s an ableist who must love to discriminate against people with different kinds of disabilities!

[@xfreja]

@@kait6994 exactly

[@hayden199516]

I feel bad for her students.

[@PolarisWorld]

I took the class alongside nick and I wouldnt hurt a fly, courses like these help kids bond and learn valuable skills with focusing and being safe. Personally, I thought he was a weird kid but never assumed he would commit such terrible atrocities, you cant know everythything about someone.

[@lynnecarriemurphy3448]

Is this school still open for students to attend?

[@cynthiaandena3350]

Yes only where the shooting was it's been closed 4 4 years.

[@twiggyb8962]

I'm sorry, but activity such as ROTC should only be available for ones who enlist into the military as a prequal before graduating. Maybe Cruz would have been closely watched if you have signed up for enlistment.

[@usurper000]

Absolutely not!! I am 22 years old, attended ROTC for "fun". As an introvert growing up, ROTC taught me discipline, basic communication skills, and got me into fitness; Basic life skills that you do not learn in any other course in high school, if not at home. In fact it is discouraged to pressure others to join the military if the individual chooses not to.

[@twiggyb8962]

@@usurper000 Ok, life skills but firearm training for someone who needs guidance? I think not. Sorry buddy

[@shoottokill1o175]

@@twiggyb8962 Most rotc programs don’t have shooting teams. Mine didn’t and we never spoke about firearms

[@Nonowness]

Cruz wanted to join the military, they did not take him in, possibly they noticed that something was wrong with Nikolas.

[@hothmandon]

Wow this is still going on.

[@dariusperry4541]

I feel bad for this witness.

[@hotpepper5125]

Oh Hell no the shooter was ROTC person, man give him a miltary punishment

[@redjuice02]

how did you not know this. all the videos of nik on the day of the shooting show him in the rotc shirt and mention it

[@niceguy3041]

Wow he killed innocent children on valentine day those people will always remember this i lost my mother on a xmas eve over 40 years ago and still xmas is a difficult period in my life

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

He probably picked Valentine's Day for much the same reason Al Capone picked that day.

[@niceguy3041]

@Boston Gal yes sorry I forgot to mention and those who committed suicide afterwards to

[@Mitchellgonzalezofficial]

Bro how is this guy still alive????

[@Lady_Bug218]

Unbelievable !!! Talking about God is not allowed in schools , but how to use guns yes . 🤯

[@stalks1413]

Don't worry religion is coming back to school! Just not Christianity....

[@johnnyb7628]

It was an air gun.

[@HeartsOfDarkness]

Air guns are not firearms. Get your facts right.

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

Liberals actually love guns. "At the end of the day, every law or regulation liberals propose is enforced at point of gun. Liberals love guns."---Ben Shapiro.

[@the90stimemachine9]

Cuz there is only really one way to shoot a gun regardless of what your aiming at

[@charlottescaysbrook7234]

How did this guy not understand when the guy spelt it out to him that he just said 2017 🤣

[@thirdborn333]

He was nervous and knew where they were going with their questioning.

[@sprocadoodledoo]

Wow - only in America would you learn how to shoot a gun at school....unreal

[@Kamingo170]

Someone doesn't have very good comprehension skills. ROTC isn't in school you dim wit, it's a separate class I used to be in it myself

[@Jprager]

That makes you either a foreigner in denial or one of those lame liberal nerds who doesn’t know sht about countries like Russia, Cuba, or Iran were kids are learning to defend themselves with this context in mind

[@Unknownuser-k2d]

Pellet gun*

[@koltaire5938]

It’s ROTC, it’s a dedicated military class where students learn skills associated with the military. Land nav, martching, formations, shooting, PT, rank structure. They weren’t just “ taught to shoot” there’s so much more to JROTC/ROTC than just shooting

[@johnnyb7628]

Do you know what ROTC is ?

[@tiffanyv4205]

Why was he even a student at MSD if he was in the other school????

[@melsafken764]

Omg 😢😢

[@annk3372]

I thought the defense Portion was supposed to be starting?

[@connorcolquhou5845]

"feel my wrath" lol your life looks pretty exciting now that everyone "respects" you

[@MariaM-fu6wm]

Created by and Abandoned by the same system.

[@cynthiaandena3350]

Wow how did he get a job. 2017-2019 =12 years he was even aware what he said.

[@Glock7eventeen]

He’s old dummy

[@wavybebes6979]

He’s human. Human make mistakes

[@cynthiaandena3350]

@@wavybebes6979 yes but when someone asks u a question 2 3 times and when he repeats 2017-2019 and he doesn't know what to say let's get real

[@corinapopescu8791]

Man is retired now and elderly. People sometimes age. Don’t be cruel to elderly people

[@cynthiaandena3350]

@@corinapopescu8791 I am not cruel. He probably wasn't probably retired. My aunt is going to be 92 and I respect her.

[@_corrine12_]

So did I, it wasn't hard.

[@nikkischoessow4847]

Oh this rifle training has no place in high school. Wow I believe alot of young people have mental illness. Until they pass the stage of mid to late twenties and should be watched closely as they grow they need to pass the mental illness stage. Something of course can rise in later stages of life but there are too many loose cannons that are young and left unchecked. Just because they are young they are not innocent.

[@kimleverette31]

The testimonies from the medical examiners is obvious he is a sharpshooter

[@redjuice02]

shooting 70-90 bullets (I dont remember the number that the guy testified to) and killing 17 is a sharpshooter?

[@pilsnrimgaard2507]

This clown is no range instructor of any kind of military standard. Up and down is referred to as elevation. Sideways is wind-age. Sharpshooter and Marksman in ARMY standards is average. Expert is the upper 10 percentile.

[@RobbieStacks90]

Why are you calling him a clown, tough guy? You might have been a good shooter back in the Vietnam days, but you can't beat a young buck like me at the range.

[@usurper000]

You're right, he's no range instructor. Be a bigger person and stop insulting people - he is not a clown. He is simply an ROTC instructor.

[@theguy81642]

Yeah he never claimed to be range instructor, he is simply a JROTC teacher trying to give the kids a lesson in self confidence which you clearly do not have, in the end you are the clown.

[@petejames1326]

this is ridiculous, so if someone has no friends and is quiet they are some how socially impaired and that means they are looked down upon by society, is this what cruz DEFENSE lawyer was saying at the end? some of the greatest minds and thinkers in history have been loners with ADHD by the way.

[@dirtydiamond5172]

im fascinated by loners. they dont act like sheeple

[@petejames1326]

@@dirtydiamond5172 im a loner and a 40yr old INCEL, ive given up on humanity and society as a whole, yet im still able to hold down a full time job which i hate, but i never talk to my boss or my work colleagues, because i know they talk about me behind by back and call me that creepy weird guy, even though im not ugly or fat, in fact i consider myself to be a really nice guy, but im shy and quiet and introverted, so why does society look down upon me in this fashion? do we only give high value to people that are always loud and extroverted and always smiling and looking energetic and happy? im at the stage of life now where i dont even care if im a loner or not, its less stressful being alone and im not the kind of person that will ask how was your day etc... because quite frankly, i couldnt care less how your day has been or your stupid problems, i only care about me, because i know no one else does, no one cares if i got fired or because homeless, so why should i care about greater society, i dont really care if nuclear ww3 breaks out after i die, i dont have any family or friends that could perish anyway, so its not my problem after im gone

[@frandrake983]

Become better citizens?! WTF! Did you follow through with these students? Teach them a skill and not help them find a job? He should have directed the kid to join the service.

[@judescoburn6021]

Get rid of ROTC in the states and replace it with a mental health class.

[@Thinkforyourselves64]

Obsession with weapons. Makes me sick to my stomach.

[@RobbieStacks90]

Take an antacid then.

[@YourBF]

the shooter is having a flash back....

[@clarehagley2165]

Teaching kids to gain shooting badges at school. Very strange to an Australian.

[@michellenainkristinabusch1221]

Russia does it, China does it...heck, the Middle East has kids doing the same. Stop acting like the rest of the world is perfect

[@suzetteKm]

I just wonder, what does Nikolas write ✍🏼 down every day? 🤔

[@cynthiaandena3350]

He is writing a bough 4 when he dies. We will remember him.

[@a.garcia8086]

Wondering the same thing !!!!

[@bootscooty]

I don't know if it's a coincidence or that this teacher wasn't there when Mr Cruz went on his rampage but I do find it perhaps coincidentally funny that the guy who patted him on his back for being a good shooters around to tell the tale

[@Kamingo170]

That's a stretch. Chill out there Alex

[@yoboo8357]

@@Kamingo170 insanely huge stretch, "I don't know if it's a coincidence" seems like he made up a conspiracy theory in his head that the ROTC teacher might have been warned

[@isaiahs675]

Stop reaching this dude is innocent your trying to form some conspiracy theory

[@kieranwhite4224]

did you even watch the video, or are you just super dense? the witness literally said that he was at the school on feb 14 2018.

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

Just so long as he didn't pat him on the back for being a good shooter, AFTER his shooting! LOL. That would kind of be in, you know, bad taste, dontcha think?

[@4UStevePerry]

They don't have Home ec. anymore but they can earn a sharpshooter badge.

[@trinade3732]

He just wont take responsibility for teaching kids how to kill with Precision. Is he responsable for noticing troubled kids? Or does he just don't pay attention? He sure is Testifying as if he had no responsibility for churning out kids at this age to kill. What is his purpose for teaching these young kids? Graduate and then take classes outside of school.

[@Carlos-sy8hz]

He taught them how to shoot. Teaching them how to use their constitutional right and if needed defend themselves from the government. He's not at fault for the globlin's acts

[@Mandy-nt2cs]

ROTC is a wonderful program.

[@zilla6300]

answer this. of all the students, how many shot up a school? one.the others did not. it has nothing to do with the teacher. it has everything to do with the guns and the mentality of the shooter.

[@trinade3732]

@@Carlos-sy8hz If he was so damaged why didn't this guy recognize that and why isn't he looking out for such things? If you teach how to use guns you need to be able to recognize someone who shouldn't be handling guns. So yes, he is responsable for reporting or at least taking a second look at him. However, people like you who are ONLY concerned about YOUR rights to carry Neglect to recognize many should not have that right. And until people like you get off your soapbox about the second ammendment and decide to take a closer look, we will continue to have this kind of shootings. If you have a right to have a gun under the constitution everyone has that right.

[@deeasztalos2520]

How is it the teacher's responsibility for what the students do with that training? Is it the responsibility of a gun range what the people who shoot there do?

[@octaviosalvatierra1389]

The educational system is at fault as the society is when you push a individual to his limits. if you dont start to understand and intregate this individuals then this will always happen, be kind with others, try talking to the quiet kids, school should really work harder in this cases, he had so many red flags but no one saw them. He is not the first but he will no be the last. keep it in mind

[@JohnSmith-ct5jd]

"I started in 2017 and left in 2019. I was teaching for twelve years." Ahhhh....the public education system. Gotta love it!

[@venusrx4671]

I think he is just extremely nervous

[@jeremysmith9694]

He's like 80. You're making fun of an 80 year old.

[@mamarobyn]

And you're making fun of someone who fought for this country...Do better!

[@kait6994]

I’m thinking he’s just really nervous. Maybe he feels like the public blames him. I don’t think they should, but it’s possible people have placed some blame on him.

[@vicb018]

The giggling is CRINGE

[@beeinthebodytorahclass2002]

This is old news being reposted