In this scenario, you'll meet Mark Hernandez, a 17-year-old high school junior and his mother Cynthia, a primary characters. Mark has been a victim of cyberbullying. Today, Cynthia brings Mark to the emergency department after hearing from a school administrator that Mark threatened an act of mass violence. [MUSIC] Hi Mark, and Miss Hernandez, I'm doctor Hoops, what brings you to the emergency Department today? >> I didn't know what to do, Mark needs help. >> Mark, we're here to help you, tell me more about what's going on. >> Well, this group of kids at school have just been cruel to Mark for the last year for absolutely no reason. Mark is the sweetest young man, they've been posting mean an untrue things about him on social media. It's just been really upsetting for Mark and for all of us, it feels like his bullying is nonstop. They post all this stuff online and then laugh at him when he's at school it's really demoralizing for him, I don't know how much more he can take. We had a meeting with the school principal and teachers about it a couple of weeks ago and the student was suspended. >> Yeah, and that just give him more time at home to make fake videos of me. >> That's awful Mark, I'm so sorry. >> Well, the bully posted an awful, just awful video of Mark online and it feels like the whole world sigh. >> Yeah, and Mark is the nicest boy, such a good student and friend, but this kind of menace would get to anyone. >> Mark how do you feel? Your mom is right, this would be really upsetting for anyone. >> Yeah, it's upsetting, I mean, I hate this guy and that video is fake, it wasn't even me, but he makes it look like me. I got really mad and I told my best friend that I wanted to kill him, but I didn't mean, not like I'd be sad if he died honestly, but I wouldn't hurt anybody. >> It's totally normal to be furious, but of course your friend and your mom and your teachers are worried that normal anger might drive you to do something that's totally unlike you. Can you tell me more about that? >> I didn't mean it, I wouldn't hurt anyone. >> I know you think you wouldn't, but mark you've not been yourself these last few weeks, you've been so withdrawn. I'm worried about you and doctor Hoops, after I got the call from the school informing me that Marks friend had told the school's guidance counselor what Mark said. I went and looked in my son's room, I notice several violent drawings on his desk and I found a list. He printed off all the comments from that awful video and made a list of all the names of the kids who had made mean comments on it, I was so shocked. >> You what? How could you go through my stuff? >> Mark, I love you and I'm scared for you, I'm afraid you aren't yourself and you'd hurt someone. >> Mark, Mrs Hernandez, thank you for sharing all this. Mark, I'm worried about you too, and I definitely want to have our psychiatry team come and talk to you about these feelings. And when you go home, if that's today or after a few days of treatment, I want to be sure that you're safe, so I have a few questions to ask. >> Anything. >> Are there any guns in your home? >> Yes, my husband owns two hunting rifles, he's out of town right now. >> We need to get those guns out of the house. And since Mark is 17, almost 18, we need to make sure that we keep him safe during this really difficult acute period. Mark because of the stress from this bullying, you're in danger. >> No, I'm not, I just got mad, anyone would be mad. >> Of course, you're mad, but you've been different. Your art work has been really dark and that list Mark, that scares me. >> I'm not going to hurt anyone, it was just an expression, you're overreacting. >> Your friend had to tell someone, your mom had to tell someone and I have to tell someone too. I'm going to ask the police for their help in getting the guns out of your home and preventing you from getting new ones during this crisis. To keep you safe while we're all really worried about you. I'm going to ask for their help petitioning for something called an extreme risk protective order, have you ever heard of this before? >> No, but my husband keeps them locked in a safe and unloaded, so I don't think Mark can get to those. Safe storage and safe handling is really important to my husband and our family. >> In that state, police and law enforcement can ask the courts to remove guns from the homes of people who might be in danger to themselves or others. And when you're better, when it's safe usually in here, you can have the guns back and it doesn't matter that Mark doesn't own these guns, if he has access to them there are danger. Mark is smart and resourceful and even though you store your gun safely, I still think this is important. >> No, you're right, and I don't have anyone I could give them to you, I want them out of the house, I think my husband would agree. >> Okay great, let me walk you through what will happen next. [MUSIC] >> 70 to 80% of school shooters underage 18 acquired the firearms used from their home or from the homes of friends or relatives. But there are often warning signs, in 77% of school shooting incidents, at least one person knew about the attacker's plan. So ERPOs can be used to protect children too, although children are not the legal gun owners, the guns they have access to may still be removed from the home during a critical period. And ERPOs can also prevent purchase of firearms if a young person is about to be of legal age to purchase firearms themselves. [MUSIC]
