A person who belongs to the Mennonite (Anabaptist) religious group; they are generally pacifist and believe in building community, shared leadership, family relationships, nurturing trust, and acceptance of differences.
Published in Chapter:
It Can Happen Here: Addressing School Safety and Security After a Mass Shooting in a Small Kansas Town
Jean A. Patterson (Wichita State University, USA), Bobby Berry (Wichita State University, USA), Jennifer L. Forker (Wichita State University, USA), Sharon Jaso (Wichita State University, USA), John Montford (Wichita State University, USA), Deborah A. Stubblefield (Wichita State University, USA), and Mercy O. Umeri (Wichita State University, USA)
Copyright: © 2020
|Pages: 17
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-1766-6.ch001
Abstract
On February 26, 2016, a mass shooting happened in the quiet town of Hesston, Kansas. A disgruntled employee opened fire at the Excel Industries plant, located directly across the street from the public-school complex. Four people were killed, and 14 others sustained serious injuries. This chapter reports findings from an interpretive qualitative study conducted to understand perceptions of safety and security measures taken in Hesston public schools after the shooting. The authors conducted personal interviews and focus groups which allowed for gathering and analyzing people's perspectives. Documents and artifacts were collected, and media coverage of the shooting was analyzed. Observations regarding safety and security measures were carried out at each school building. The results showed participants hold a strong attachment to their community that sustains the belief that Hesston is a safe place. They trust their law enforcement and other community leaders to take appropriate security measures.