In the video, Nessel explains the potential charges one could face if they make a threat of violence, which include:

• communicating a threat of terrorism, 20-year felony;
• calling in a bomb threat, a four-year felony;
• malicious use of a telecommunications device, a six-month misdemeanor; and
• threatening violence against school employee or student, a one-year misdemeanor.

“Threatening the lives of students and staff, whether with intent to harm or simply to disrupt, is an outrage, particularly in the wake of the tragedy in Oxford,” State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said. “Our students and staff should feel safe in our schools, and anyone that threatens that safety should be subject to swift and significant consequences.”

If you receive a threat or know of a threat of violence against your community, please contact your local law enforcement.

You can also leave a tip with the state’s OK2SAY hotline by calling 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729) or texting 652729 (OK2SAY). The hotline operates 24/7 and protects the confidentiality of the reporter’s identity.

OK2SAY, which is housed within the Michigan State Police, provides for confidential reports of potential self-harm, harm to others, or criminal acts including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, assault, or rape, directed at students, school employees, or schools in this state.

When Your Child Lies ~ How to Respond

Children typically begin telling their first lies between the ages of 2 and 4. This represents a sophisticated mental leap – the child has to be able to comprehend that you, as a parent, do not know everything he knows. Then he has to construct an alternate reality – what he wants you to think. And he has to be able to hold both realities in his head without accidentally giving himself away. By age 7 and 8, most children lie for two reasons: to dodge punishment and to remain in your good graces. How you respond to your child’s lies is far more important than the fact that she has fibbed. Try these suggestions from some parenting experts:

• Take it seriously. It’s OK to disregard the early fibs of a 3- or 4-year old, but if you consistently laugh at your child’s tall tales, she’ll begin to think that lying is acceptable behavior. Instead, gently remind her to tell the truth.

• State the facts. If your child has chocolate and crumbs around his mouth and is clutching the remains of a chocolate chip cookie, don’t ask, “Did you eat the last cookie?” That simply sets your child up to lie. State what you see instead and start a conversation from there.

• Bend but don’t break. Never punish a child for telling the truth, even if it involves admitting to a misdeed that is forbidden by your family’s code of behavior. Consider offering a one-time pass for kids who step forward to accept the blame.

• Talk about honesty. Share stories you hear about honesty. Help your children to see the value of honesty at work, at home, and in relationships.

• Tell the truth. Seems obvious, right? But it’s so easy to fib! Be sure you mean what you say to your kids. Little kids interpret, “We’re going to the park tomorrow” as a fact, and if you don’t go, they think you’ve lied to them. Avoid white lies. Teaching kids to lie to spare others’ feelings only reinforces the idea that lies make people happy.

• Get help if you need it. If your usually truthful kid starts spouting lies, pay attention. A change in lying behavior usually warrants further investigation.