Former classmate of Trump rally gunman says he was ‘bullied almost every day’
Most attackers were victims of bullying, which was often observed by others: Most of the attackers were bullied by their classmates, and for over half of the attackers the bullying appeared to be of a persistent pattern which lasted for weeks, months, or years. It is critical that schools implement comprehensive programs designed to promote safe and positive school climates, where students feel empowered to report bullying when they witness it or are victims of it, and where school officials and other authorities act to intervene.
Most attackers used firearms, and firearms were most often acquired from the home: Many of the attackers were able to access firearms from the home of their parents or another close relative. [USA Today: “Trump rally shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks appears to have acted as a lone wolf using an AR-style rifle that was purchased by his father, according to FBI officials.”]
This report was authored by the staff of the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) who are nearly all social science research specialists. If Project 2025 is implemented, it seems reasonable to assume that few if any of these specialists would pass the Trump loyalty tests that will be required for members of the next Trump administration.
It should also be noted that while most shooters had been bullied, the vast majority of children who experience bullying, do not become shooters:
It’s important to note that no specific personality profile or traits can be linked to a person who has committed a violent act like a school shooting, said Stephanie Fredrick, associate director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention at the University at Buffalo. Most students who are bullied do not respond by committing mass violence, she added.
“That being said, yes, many students who have engaged in school shootings or other violent behavior — they do have a history of experiencing bullying,” Fredrick said, citing the 2019 Secret Service center’s findings. “Certainly, schools should have a strong dedication to bullying prevention, and I do think that would certainly help to prevent some instances of school shootings.”