ASPEN, COLORADO (Post Time News)–Aspen schools will be closed Friday after a written threat appeared in a middle school portable toilet claiming that whites would be shot at 8:46 AM May 11.
The threat is similar to a racial threat on a portable toilet in Snowmass last week that also specified a time and date for a shooting in a threat against Hispanics.
The specificity of the Aspen threat caused one law enforcement official to call the Aspen Middle School threat a “copycat” incident based on Snowmass. The date and time in Snowmass passed last week without incident or arrests.
The recent massacre of students and teachers at Virginia Tech has left local law enforcement officials even more sensitive than usual to the possibility of such a threat.
…developing…
So let me get this straight. If something of this magnitude happens at a Glenwood Springs school, there’s really nothing to worry about. But if it happens in Aspen, and there’s a clear racial component to the threat, that merits our attention.
How interesting.
Cheers,
So let me get this straight. If something of this magnitude happens at a Glenwood Springs school, there’s really nothing to worry about. But if it happens in Aspen, and there’s a clear racial component to the threat, that merits our attention.
How interesting.
Cheers,
Why would you say such a thing?
Be specific. Get the word out.
Thanks, Michael!
Why would you say such a thing?
Be specific. Get the word out.
Thanks, Michael!
Michael,
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the morning the “hit list” discovered at GSMS hit the front page of the Post Independent (May 2, 2007), you framed the import of this topic in terms of RecklessG’s Doomsday post–not likely to happen, hence not worthy of concern.
That’s why I say such a thing.
Cheers,
Michael,
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the morning the “hit list” discovered at GSMS hit the front page of the Post Independent (May 2, 2007), you framed the import of this topic in terms of RecklessG’s Doomsday post–not likely to happen, hence not worthy of concern.
That’s why I say such a thing.
Cheers,
Several issues about this I would like to bring up.
One is, that I have yet to see a case where a warning of some incident similar to this, ie: bomb threat, mass killings, etc. has ever been carried out. These threats are meant to instill fear, confusion, reaction, and create chauos in our “normal” lives. Most terrorist or terrorist type instances are carried out without warning (through clues can be picked up of an intending attack by alert citizens, intelligence and law enforcement to stop such attacks). Warnings/threats like the one seen at Aspen serve only one purpose, that is to disrupt. By canceling school, the school did exactly what the perpetrator wanted.
Should the school have taken the threat seriously in light of recent events like VT? Yes, but how about an increase in police presence or a delay to start classes until after the given “time” of the event. It is my understanding that the decision was made by school officials who disregarded law enforcements recommendations of not closing down the school. Good job school administration, you have just emboldened those who are currently manipulating you.
And now what do you do? You have entered into a game of control with whoever these people (or person) is, where they hold the cards and you just played into their hand. Nice going.
Several issues about this I would like to bring up.
One is, that I have yet to see a case where a warning of some incident similar to this, ie: bomb threat, mass killings, etc. has ever been carried out. These threats are meant to instill fear, confusion, reaction, and create chauos in our “normal” lives. Most terrorist or terrorist type instances are carried out without warning (through clues can be picked up of an intending attack by alert citizens, intelligence and law enforcement to stop such attacks). Warnings/threats like the one seen at Aspen serve only one purpose, that is to disrupt. By canceling school, the school did exactly what the perpetrator wanted.
Should the school have taken the threat seriously in light of recent events like VT? Yes, but how about an increase in police presence or a delay to start classes until after the given “time” of the event. It is my understanding that the decision was made by school officials who disregarded law enforcements recommendations of not closing down the school. Good job school administration, you have just emboldened those who are currently manipulating you.
And now what do you do? You have entered into a game of control with whoever these people (or person) is, where they hold the cards and you just played into their hand. Nice going.
Mitch:
I consider the hit list to be of GREAT concern and I don’t know why you would think otherwise.
Didn’t I devote a big chunk of “Con Games” to it? Same with the Snowmass incident. Ditto Rifle. Aspen, Glenwood, Snowmass, Rifle–same response from me. So you’ve got me extremely confused.
Any threat should be taken seriously and it makes no difference where it comes from.
All best, Con Man
Mitch:
I consider the hit list to be of GREAT concern and I don’t know why you would think otherwise.
Didn’t I devote a big chunk of “Con Games” to it? Same with the Snowmass incident. Ditto Rifle. Aspen, Glenwood, Snowmass, Rifle–same response from me. So you’ve got me extremely confused.
Any threat should be taken seriously and it makes no difference where it comes from.
All best, Con Man
My, my, my….. how our world has changed in the last 10-20 years. I used to drive an old ranch truck into town to school and to football/baseball practice and the sacking groceries job. I had atleast one loaded rifle hanging in the rear window gun rack, usually a .30/30. It wasn’t cool to do so, it was just our environment, our society, our openness. I grew up in a very rural part of West Texas, in the cotton fields/ranchland/oilfields. Nobody at that time would have ever dreamed that some whackezoid would actually take that loaded rifle from the truck into the school and start lighting up people. Soon after, I bought a beautiful ’70 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible muscle car, and after a few months of restoration, every Mexican in town would challenge me and the stock Rocket 350 (a bit souped up) to a drag at every stoplight. What they didn’t know was that, even though I wasn’t in the ranch truck, I still had that trusty ol’ 30/30 in that car with me.
Nobody then would or could care less. And at time, if I got pulled over for speading, etc…. no officer ever gave me (*&^% about having that firearm in the car. It was no big deal, as perhaps 50% of those on the hometown drag on Friday nights also had a gun in the rear window gunrack.
So, now here we are 20 years later, and some messed up meth loaded construction worker, who is sitting in a porta-pottie decides to write with a Sharpie … “to hell with the whitey’s, I’m gonna shoot them all.” And this portajohn is close to the Aspen High School construction site? Hmmm…>
So, as I conclude…. a week earlier, a similar “comment” and/or threat. is written on another/separate portapottie… and yes, society now says a magic marker comment on a porta-potty is now a “threat”…. so we must conclude that we have racist, errogant, messed up psycho construction worker who probably works at multiple sites…. enjoying some first amendment rights to free speech.
Local law enforcement authorities put two and two together, and WhooHooo!… Aspen kids get a day of no school.
I don’t mean to be cynical, but something is weirdly messed up about this. — J (Whats it gonna be like in another 20 years???)
My, my, my….. how our world has changed in the last 10-20 years. I used to drive an old ranch truck into town to school and to football/baseball practice and the sacking groceries job. I had atleast one loaded rifle hanging in the rear window gun rack, usually a .30/30. It wasn’t cool to do so, it was just our environment, our society, our openness. I grew up in a very rural part of West Texas, in the cotton fields/ranchland/oilfields. Nobody at that time would have ever dreamed that some whackezoid would actually take that loaded rifle from the truck into the school and start lighting up people. Soon after, I bought a beautiful ’70 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible muscle car, and after a few months of restoration, every Mexican in town would challenge me and the stock Rocket 350 (a bit souped up) to a drag at every stoplight. What they didn’t know was that, even though I wasn’t in the ranch truck, I still had that trusty ol’ 30/30 in that car with me.
Nobody then would or could care less. And at time, if I got pulled over for speading, etc…. no officer ever gave me (*&^% about having that firearm in the car. It was no big deal, as perhaps 50% of those on the hometown drag on Friday nights also had a gun in the rear window gunrack.
So, now here we are 20 years later, and some messed up meth loaded construction worker, who is sitting in a porta-pottie decides to write with a Sharpie … “to hell with the whitey’s, I’m gonna shoot them all.” And this portajohn is close to the Aspen High School construction site? Hmmm…>
So, as I conclude…. a week earlier, a similar “comment” and/or threat. is written on another/separate portapottie… and yes, society now says a magic marker comment on a porta-potty is now a “threat”…. so we must conclude that we have racist, errogant, messed up psycho construction worker who probably works at multiple sites…. enjoying some first amendment rights to free speech.
Local law enforcement authorities put two and two together, and WhooHooo!… Aspen kids get a day of no school.
I don’t mean to be cynical, but something is weirdly messed up about this. — J (Whats it gonna be like in another 20 years???)
Michael,
Again, with all due respect, I contend that your characterization of the GSMS story on March 2nd stands in stark contrast to the urgency with which you blogged about the breaking news of this disturbing event at AHS.
I rarely get to hear your show in its entirety, but I do remember you positing that the GSMS hit list, along with RecklessG’s doomsday theory, were highly unlikely. Too many safeguards in place. Never happen… that sort of thinking.
In the grand scheme of things, this inconsistency doesn’t matter. The point is no one can afford to dismiss warning signs, no matter where or who they come from.
After reading “The Looming Tower,” surely you’d agree.
Cheers,
Michael,
Again, with all due respect, I contend that your characterization of the GSMS story on March 2nd stands in stark contrast to the urgency with which you blogged about the breaking news of this disturbing event at AHS.
I rarely get to hear your show in its entirety, but I do remember you positing that the GSMS hit list, along with RecklessG’s doomsday theory, were highly unlikely. Too many safeguards in place. Never happen… that sort of thinking.
In the grand scheme of things, this inconsistency doesn’t matter. The point is no one can afford to dismiss warning signs, no matter where or who they come from.
After reading “The Looming Tower,” surely you’d agree.
Cheers,
Mitch:
I would separate doomsday scenarios from racially motivated incidents.
As for giving more weight to Aspen over Glenwood, if so–and I have no reason to doubt your memory–I promise you it was NOT because I took the threat any less seriously. If anything, an actual “hit list” in Glenwood strikes me as far more serious than a port-a-potty copycat. To have actual names on a list is chilling.
All threats–the “looming tower” was Osama’s reference to the World Trade Center–have to be taken seriously.
On the funny side, I’m almost amused that you take me to be partial to upvalley over downvalley. I live midvalley. If there’s news to be had I’ll follow it for my show wherever it falls. Are you seeing some kind of class prejudice on my part? If so, you’d be the first to notice it.
Best, Michael!
Mitch:
I would separate doomsday scenarios from racially motivated incidents.
As for giving more weight to Aspen over Glenwood, if so–and I have no reason to doubt your memory–I promise you it was NOT because I took the threat any less seriously. If anything, an actual “hit list” in Glenwood strikes me as far more serious than a port-a-potty copycat. To have actual names on a list is chilling.
All threats–the “looming tower” was Osama’s reference to the World Trade Center–have to be taken seriously.
On the funny side, I’m almost amused that you take me to be partial to upvalley over downvalley. I live midvalley. If there’s news to be had I’ll follow it for my show wherever it falls. Are you seeing some kind of class prejudice on my part? If so, you’d be the first to notice it.
Best, Michael!
I say, every town have a SWAT TEAM at the ready.
I say, every town have a SWAT TEAM at the ready.
Michael,
I don’t take you to be partial to upvalley over downvalley. You’re editor of AspenPost.net, so you surely have the final say of the use of the placename “Glentucky” in AspenPost headlines.
But forget all that. You’re relatively new to this valley. Has your compass been properly set by what is alluring in this place? Of course it has.
I didn’t impugn you on the basis of some kind of class prejudice. I challenge the way you characterized two serious events separated by fact and place, both of which strike squarely into the heart of our collective community.
That’s all.
Cheers,
Michael,
I don’t take you to be partial to upvalley over downvalley. You’re editor of AspenPost.net, so you surely have the final say of the use of the placename “Glentucky” in AspenPost headlines.
But forget all that. You’re relatively new to this valley. Has your compass been properly set by what is alluring in this place? Of course it has.
I didn’t impugn you on the basis of some kind of class prejudice. I challenge the way you characterized two serious events separated by fact and place, both of which strike squarely into the heart of our collective community.
That’s all.
Cheers,