A classmate brought a BLOWTORCH to school today, and my already hectic day just got crazier. This morning, our power went out, but they eventually fixed it. Then, during my last class, a kid pulled out a makeshift blowtorch—a spray bottle filled with some kind of flammable liquid taped to a lighter—and lit it up right there in class! He nearly set the kid in front of me and his computer on fire. The flames were no joke; he sprayed it a few times, and it shot fire halfway down the desk. What am I supposed to do? THIS KID BROUGHT A DANGEROUS WEAPON THAT COULD BURN DOWN THE BUILDING AND HURT PEOPLE!
Edit: He still hasn’t been caught.
Edit 2: I appreciate all the responses, but I want to clarify something. I found out that most spray bottles are flammable, so maybe he didn’t actually put anything dangerous in it. However, I can’t report this to school security because we don’t have any. The schools in my area don’t have police officers on site. My parents have even threatened me about telling anyone and said they would “handle it later” (but I doubt that’s really going to happen). If I involve the police, I’ll end up being known as the kid who got another student arrested over something like this. I feel like I’m the only one at school who sees this as a serious issue.
It sounds like you’re in a really tough situation, and your safety, as well as the safety of your classmates, should be the top priority. Even if you’re worried about how your actions might be perceived, it’s crucial to report this before someone gets hurt. You could talk to a trusted teacher or school administrator privately—they’re there to help you, and they’ll likely take your concerns seriously.
You might also want to consider anonymously reporting the incident if you’re worried about backlash. It’s better to be seen as someone who cares about the safety of others than to stay silent and risk a dangerous situation. The right people need to know about this so they can take appropriate action. Just remember, you’re not the one responsible for the kid’s actions; you’re just looking out for your peers. Stay safe!