WBSM TV: Sheriff Tom Hodgson on School Shootings, Gun Control

Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson joined WBSM's Chris McCarthy on Monday morning to discuss the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida that claimed 17 lives, as well as a number of other issues dealing with gun control and school safety.

On the subject of school shootings overall, Sheriff Hodgson said, "it's time to find the answers" when it comes to why school shootings occur, in order to eliminate them. He said a big part of that means "drilling down" on mental health issues that have affected a number of gunmen in such tragedies.

The sheriff also discussed the public outcry over Broward County Sheriff's Deputy Scot Peterson not going into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the shooting, instead, remaining outside the building as shots continued to be fired. Sheriff Hodgson said although he was "disappointed" with Peterson's lack of action, he also thinks there may be more to the story.

"That said something to me because it is completely contrary to what we are trained to do as police officers," Sheriff Hodgson said. "In this instance, it doesn't sound right to me."

Hodgson said he wonders if there wasn't some kind of "stand down" order issued or an existing policy in place that kept Peterson from being able to run into the school, and now he's being unfairly maligned by everyone from his superior, Sheriff Scott Israel, to President Donald Trump.

Hodgson also gave his thoughts on warning signs about those who might be prone to violence, and the cultural influence that leads some people to commit violent acts against themselves and others.

Other topics included gun control, how to better protect schools overall, and also how he tries to provide positive encouragement for the prisoners in his care.