How was Audrey Hale allowed to “legally” purchase weapons if he was having mental troubles?  

There are way too many loopholes when it comes to purchasing weapons. If you have been keeping up, they want you to think because Audrey identified as transgender, that any hormones he was taking were to blame.  That has nothing to do with it, they are trying to take our focus away from the real problem…how easy it is to “legally” get a gun.

You got people already trying to find an excuse for why he did what he did.  I have not read anything that said he was taking hormones.  I have not seen any research that said taking hormone therapy, which has not been confirmed if he was even taking it or not, has suicidal thoughts as a side effect.  Stick with the facts and go with what we know right now.  What we do know is that he had an emotional disorder, and he was already depressed about the death of a classmate.  Apparently, he did not have (or chose not to) talk to anyone to get these emotions out.

Why are we going through yet another deadly school shooting in less than a year?  We just had this conversation last June in Texas and now we are going through this again in our own front yard (not the backyard, this was right in our faces).  Now Tennessee is on the map for all the wrong reasons, for being the deadliest school shooting since Texas.  In 3 months time, this would be 19^th shooting in 3 months, which is just ridiculous.

Tried To Get Her Some Help

Just like in Texas, Audrey sent out warnings of what was to come, except she sent them to a friend.  Now for those who thought “what would happen if someone could have helped her” now we know, in this case, nothing.  Averianna got alarming messages from

Aubrey shortly before the shooting telling her “I’m planning to die today” and that it would be on the news.  When she saw this, being a friend, she tried to find someone to help Audrey.

Averianna called the suicide hotline, which was a good idea since her friend sounded like she was going to do harm to herself but got the run around.  She was told to call the

Sherriff’s office because they could only help if the person calling was suicidal.  WTW?!?!?  So, another person cannot call in if they feel their friend is suicidal?  You only help them if it’s the actual suicidal person calling?  Really? 

I praise God for Averianna, regardless of the obstacles in her way, she did not stop trying to get help for her friend. She tried to do all she could, but no one could help her help her friend.  After all the waiting, and being kept on hold, just to be told they will send someone to her location later.  Later it was too late.  Try to stay focused, because the timeline will keep changing until they get all the facts in and have had time to look over all the evidence.  What we do know, for now, is that Averianna was on hold for a total of 7 minutes trying to get someone to do a wellness check on Audrey.

During their short interaction, Audrey made it clear he was ready to die,

So, it goes back to what I said about what was going on in his life that he felt this was only way he could get peace?  What do we keep missing that more people are choosing death as the only way to get their peace back?

Getting To Understand Audrey

What we also found out was that he had detailed maps of the school and several writings.  Basically, Audrey knew what he was about to do and had it written out how

he was going to do it.  Then we learn he had weapons training and came to the school

ready for a shootout with the police.  Now a question I had, that was answered on the news today, was how he was able to get the weapons when it was documented that he had an emotional disorder.  Apparently, Tennessee does not have what they call a “red flag” law that would let a judge take someone’s guns, for a short while, when they could pose a threat to themselves or others.  How much do you want a bet that law will slightly change?  These are the people, some of them at least, who are causing the most damage/destruction to human lives and yet there is nothing “legally” the law can do to prevent/stop them. 

If you wondered how he got in?  He shot out the glass doors to get in.  I don’t know about the glass doors in that school, but in some other schools, those glass doors are extremely thick.  But could the right weapon shatter those doors too?  You bet it could, no problem.  We think we are safe until something like this happens and we find out we are not safe at all.

Audrey was 28, a freelance graphic designer and illustrator that has a website that shows his artwork.  He has never been in any trouble and is described to be ‘nice, sweet and shy’.  So, what happened for him to decide that life was not worth living anymore?  Did he reach out to others before Averianna?  Clearly, he was trying to get some form of help, he just didn’t find the help that would change his mind.

Could Audrey Have Been Stopped?

March 27, 2023 Audrey Hale decided this was the day he was going to die.  It had been planned for a while and this day was the day he was going to carry it out.  Did that day mean something special to him or was it just picked at random?  He got dressed, in camouflage with a black vest.  Gets to the school, shoots out the glass and enters.  Armed with 3 different guns the day of terror had begun. 

Audrey had a plan, and part of it was that he planned not to live through, and he knew the consequences of shooting at officers.  Again, his end game was “suicide by cop” and he knew all he had to do was shoot at them and they would give him what he wanted.  We also learned that he “…legally purchased seven firearms from five local gun dealers. Three of those weapons were used in Monday’s attack.”  Even his parents felt he should not have owned any weapons because he was under a doctor’s care for an emotional disorder.

What is an emotional disorder?  It is described as a mental health condition that affects your mood like clinical depression and bipolar disorder.  Can it be treated…yes.  Can a person start to feel better…yes.  Can they go on to live normal lives…yes.

What Do We Do Now?

It has already started, protests and peaceful marches.  We need to do a better job with gun laws but we also need to look into the mental health aspect and how we can get some kind of warning when someone is trying to buy weapons that would inflict harm/death to themselves and/or others.  Why does someone always have to die for the powers that be to realize “hmmm, maybe we need to look into that a little closer”.  There will be changes, there has to be, because what they implemented backfired on them and now they have to be held accountable for it.  What we need to do is keep it peaceful, but get the message across that they need to do something to ensure the safety of our babies.  We should not be worried if our children will come back home the way they left, or if they come home at all.  They should not feel terrified to go to school worrying if this is the day they might meet Jesus.

Remember:

1 Thessalonians 5:15 – See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Thessalonians-5-15/

Which means don’t return evil with evil, return it with good.  They are waiting for protesters to get violent so they can take away from the trouble they caused to focus on the anger of the protesters, who have every right to be mad.

Romans 12:21 – Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Romans-12-21/

Which means to get distracted from evil that you forget you are there to spread the good.

The time is now that we remember why we are here and what God is calling on us to do.  To be that light in someone else’s darkness.  Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.  To stand in for those who cannot stand on their own.  To put in motion for those who don’t know where to start to make a change.  We need to speak for not only the victims, and the survivors, but the ones who caused their deaths as well.  Why?  Because somewhere in their life we failed them…badly.  The right help was not provided, the right medication was not given, the signs were either missed or ignored.  Whatever the case, all these combined has let, yet another shooter, feel death was the only way they could find peace.

So, as we fight for stricter gun laws, we also need to fight for better ways to help those with mental health problems.  Fixing either one of these will save lives, and possibly stop the next shooting. Amen

Where I got my information:

1. Phone call Audrey Hale’s friend made sounding alarm minutes before school shooting released | The Independent
2. Nashville shooting: Covenant School security expert says the quick thinking of teachers saved lives | CNN
3. What We Know About Audrey Hale, the Transgender Individual Who Committed the Nashville School Shooting | Happening Out Television Network
4. Friend says she contacted authorities after messaging with Nashville shooter Audrey Hale on morning of attack – ABC News
5. Nashville school shooting: What we know about the attack : NPR
6. Who was Audrey Hale? 14 things to know about the Nashville shooter | PINKVILLA
7. Nashville school shooting: What we know about the attack : NPR
8. Emotional Disorders: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment (healthline.com)

Ways to get motivated/inspired

Blog:  Home – RevStefanie73

Motivational:  Motivational – RevStefanie73

Podcast:  https://setyoursoulfreewithstefanie.buzzsprout.com

Youtube: RevStefanie73 – YouTube (subscribe, like and leave a comment)

Merchandise

Esty: HappySadFunnyMad | Etsy

Books on Amazon:  Amazon.com : Rev. Stefanie M. Rogers

Ways to give

Cashapp: $RevStefanieMRogers

Mail: Rev. Stefanie M. Rogers

c/oNext Generation Ministries, Inc.

PO Box 91

Hermitage, TN 37076

Text NGM to 53555