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	Vol.7, No 15, September 23, 1999
	Threats no joke A high school student in Reseda was arrested for threatening to murder a fellow student and blow up two classrooms at Trinity Lutheran School, according to the Los Angeles Times. Ken Hanson The student made the threats because he was made fun of at school. That is the same reason the Trench Coat Mafia gave for going on its shooting spree at Columbine High School in Colorado last April.   The student was identified in an anonymous letter to the school principal. Principal Jerry Romsa said he had to take the threat seriously because of the events of last spring.    The student, 14, told detectives he was "only joking" when threatening fellow students, according to the Times.    The California Penal Code says a person can be prosecuted for making a terrorist threat, even if there is no intent to carry out the threat.   This kid is a real  jerk. Doesnít he know these kind of threats are no laughing matter?   In light of the recent violence in Colorado and here in the San Fernando Valley, this teen-ager is an absolute deviant. Does he have any common sense or compassion?   If he really thinks that joking about blowing up a school and killing students is going make students to stop teasing him, he is sorely mistaken.   I have said it before and will say it again: get some tougher feelings.    If I had a nickel for every time someone made fun of me, I would be one rich son of a gun. When I was in elementary school, I was the tall, fat kid who always got teased.   Yet, I have never had the inclination to pick up a gun or make a bomb in order to exact my revenge.   People are all too willing to go out and blast someone for making harmless insults.    People need to grow up and not take these childish taunts so seriously. Have we become so feeble minded that we canít simply retort with a snappy come back when someone insults us?   Well, I hope this jerk earns his lesson. Maybe a stint in juvenile hall will make him develop some tougher feelings and not just make him tough in general.   Ken Hanson is the opinion editor of the Daily Forty-Niner		CFA angry over raise process Students welcomed to mixer New system makes e-mail easier Mentor program gives support, helps with pressures of life Toys don't kill Threats no joke WWF sues bunny Ol' Dirty Bastard does it again with new album 'Tootsie' and 'The Big Chill' make good rentals Injuries hamper 49ers Haneef blocks opponents' way LBSU soccer team tries for two this weekend Men's polo looks to rebound after tough week Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.