‘The Main Issue’: Political Analyst Points to Root Cause of US School Shootings*

*Editor’s note: On March 4, 2022, Russia enacted a law that criminalizes public opposition to, or independent news reporting about, the war in Ukraine. The law makes it a crime to call the war a “war” rather than a “special military operation” on social media or in a news article or broadcast. The law is understood to penalize any language that “discredits” Russia’s use of its military in Ukraine, calls for sanctions or protests Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It punishes anyone found to spread “false information” about the invasion with up to 15 years in prison.

Political analyst Dubravsky says school shootings in the U.S. only get attention after big tragedies.

School shootings in the U.S. aren’t a top priority for President Donald Trump's administration, political strategist and analyst Pavel Dubravsky told Lenta.ru. Dubravsky said the issue only gets genuine attention from politicians after a high-profile tragedy — then it fades from the spotlight again.

Dubravsky added that, despite all this, Trump isn't really in a position to bring meaningful change. He explained that initiatives such as improving school security, training teachers or funding weapon detection systems fall under the jurisdiction of individual state governments.

“The main question is who’s going to pay for it. That’s where a lot of these initiatives run into trouble,” Dubravsky concluded.

Earlier, the National Central Bureau of Interpol in the U.S. alerted the Sverdlovsk bureau in Russia about a potential school attack being planned in Yekaterinburg. A source said a teenager had messaged an informant on Telegram, stating his intention to carry out a shooting at School No. 17 in 2025. He even reportedly shared photos of homemade weapons.

There were earlier reports of anonymous threats circulating on social media about possible attacks on schools, kindergartens and shopping centers in the Tyumen region. In response, local authorities heightened security in educational institutions, deploying additional law enforcement officers, according to the regional government's information center.