Understanding the Mindset of a Christian School Shooter: Analyzing the Revealing Note
On March 27, 2023, Audrey Hale, a 28-year-old woman (who identified as a man) and former student of the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee carried out a shooting at that school that resulted in the deaths of three nine-year-old children and three adults. Hale had sent a message to a friend shortly before the incident, which was described as "basically a suicide note"​​.
Genesis 1:26-27
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them"​
Hale, who had no criminal record and was under care for an emotional disorder, legally purchased seven firearms in the period leading up to the incident. On the day of the shooting, Hale fired more than 150 rounds before being fatally shot by responding police officers. The swift response of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department brought the active shooter situation to an end within 14 minutes of the initial 911 call​​.
Today a conservative commentator released images of a suicide note written by Hale and it is a stark reminder of just how important your job is on the safety ministry. Let’s look at the first note:
In it, you can see a left leaning racist rant about the children. This shows the overall mental instability of Hale.
On the second page, you can see the hopes and dreams of what the suspect hopes to accomplish.
On the last and final page, you can see the suspect’s itinerary. The suspect points out that she will be looking for security at the school prior to arming up.
This shows what I have been preaching for years; problems will always start in the parking lot. That is where your main focus should be every day. Your should have good surveillance cameras pointing into the lot and your security should focus there first.
Please share this information with other safety ministry members. Share it with your elders. Use it to help you find evil before it enters your church.
I recently joined our church's security team after this incident. Always carried anyway, but I joined the team. I mentioned that we need someone in the parking lot in their vehicle with a rifle to watch for attackers and ready to go, and someone in the balcony/sound booth with a rifle. Both ideas were met with scoffs and 'That'll never happen'. My conclusion is that a few private citizens with a walkie talkie and a concealed handgun gives the leadership all the illusion of security they are looking for.
Even before the twelve apostles realized that Jesus was the Son of God, the demons in the possessed man knew who he was. They feared being sent back to Hell. Remember that the fallen angels actually experienced and witnessed God and rebelled against him anyway. Do you think they have buyers remorse?
Look around you in the world today. We have forgotten how to discern
demons, now they are "everywhere".
Remember what Jesus said to Pilot?
My kingdom is not of this world.