In response to the horrific school shooting in Minneapolis this week, I was glad to see two social marketing “sightings.”

First, I was glad they included in the newscast where the shooter got the guns.  They were his.  I believe reporting where a shooter got the guns is a very important standard news practice given that about half of school shooters get a gun from a family member, and 80% of firearm suicides among children & youth involved a gun belonging to a family member. By reporting this, there is a good chance for increased gun storage, given 60% of gun owners don’t store their guns and don’t think storage is important.

Secondly, I was glad later in the day to hear an announcement on the news from a spokesperson in Minnesota encouraging people to download the SaferWatch app, one to be used to submit anonymous tips reporting a suspicious threat noticed in a text, photo, video, or audio, including ones on social media posts. Many may have noticed the Minneapolis shooter’s posts regarding his intentions, but didn’t know there was a safe and accessible way to report it. 

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash