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[W:#389: 420, 790]Texas elementary school reports 'active shooter' on campus
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“There is no evidence the shooter is mentally ill, just angry and hateful,” said Lori Post, director of the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics at the Northwestern University School of Medicine. “While it is understandable that most people cannot fathom slaughtering small children and want to attribute it to mental health, it is very rare for a mass shooter to have a diagnosed mental health condition.”
David Riedman, founder of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s K-12 School Shooting Database, said, "Overall, mass shooters are rational. They have a plan. It’s something that develops over months or years, and there’s a clear pathway to violence.”
The much bigger problem, they said, is Texas and many other states are awash in weapons.
www.nbcnews.com
David Riedman, founder of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s K-12 School Shooting Database, said, "Overall, mass shooters are rational. They have a plan. It’s something that develops over months or years, and there’s a clear pathway to violence.”
The much bigger problem, they said, is Texas and many other states are awash in weapons.
Abbott calls Texas school shooting a mental health issue but cut state spending for it
While such programs require more funding, they wouldn't eliminate the need for gun control, experts said.
www.nbcnews.com
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Confronted with mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun laws
Just days after the May 18, 2018, shooting at Santa Fe High School, Abbott quickly convened a series of roundtable discussions with school leaders, parents, teachers, students and advocacy groups at the Capitol to discuss ways to improve safety in Texas’ public schools.
By the end of the month, the governor had unveiled his School and Firearm Safety Action Plan that included 40 recommendations to improve school safety and pledged to put $110 million toward implementing the suggestions.
“This plan is a starting point, not an ending place,” Abbott said at the time. “It provides strategies that can be used before the next school year begins to keep our students safe when they return to school. This plan will make our schools safer and our communities safer.”
Most of the recommendations centered around “hardening” schools with more training for school marshals and better security infrastructure in campus buildings. There were also suggestions to prevent future threats, including increased mental health evaluations and a behavior threat assessment program in schools.
When Abbott asked lawmakers to also consider a “red flag” law, he claimed in the plan that similar protective orders restricting gun possession could have prevented the mass shootings in Sutherland Springs, southeast of San Antonio, and Parkland, Florida.
Yet months after the proposal, Abbott abandoned the idea, stating the suggestion wasn’t meant to be a personal endorsement as hardline gun rights activists and the lieutenant governor came out against the idea. While a “red law” flag was filed that session, it never got a hearing.
A handful of the other proposals unrelated to gun restrictions from that plan were written into a sweeping school safety bill that the Legislature passed in 2019.
“Our goal is that no child will ever feel afraid at school and no Texas family will ever experience the grief that followed the horrible school shooting at Santa Fe High School,” Patrick said. “The safety of our children remains paramount — the future of Texas depends on it."
The law required certain training for school resource officers and emergency response training for school employees, as well as established a threat assessment team to identify potentially dangerous students and determine the best way to intervene before they become violent. It also created a Texas Mental Health Consortium to bring psychiatric professionals together.
Lawmakers also passed a bill giving more teachers access to guns.
As Abbott signed that legislation at the end of the 2019 legislative session, reporters asked if he still supported a “red flag” law.
Abbott said such a measure wasn’t necessary in Texas “right now.”
:watermark(cdn.texastribune.org/media/watermarks/2022.png,-0,30,0)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/2e695d4608e83e6af88af60101ccd7e2/Abbott_roundtable_BD_TT.jpg)
www.texastribune.org
Just days after the May 18, 2018, shooting at Santa Fe High School, Abbott quickly convened a series of roundtable discussions with school leaders, parents, teachers, students and advocacy groups at the Capitol to discuss ways to improve safety in Texas’ public schools.
By the end of the month, the governor had unveiled his School and Firearm Safety Action Plan that included 40 recommendations to improve school safety and pledged to put $110 million toward implementing the suggestions.
“This plan is a starting point, not an ending place,” Abbott said at the time. “It provides strategies that can be used before the next school year begins to keep our students safe when they return to school. This plan will make our schools safer and our communities safer.”
Most of the recommendations centered around “hardening” schools with more training for school marshals and better security infrastructure in campus buildings. There were also suggestions to prevent future threats, including increased mental health evaluations and a behavior threat assessment program in schools.
When Abbott asked lawmakers to also consider a “red flag” law, he claimed in the plan that similar protective orders restricting gun possession could have prevented the mass shootings in Sutherland Springs, southeast of San Antonio, and Parkland, Florida.
Yet months after the proposal, Abbott abandoned the idea, stating the suggestion wasn’t meant to be a personal endorsement as hardline gun rights activists and the lieutenant governor came out against the idea. While a “red law” flag was filed that session, it never got a hearing.
A handful of the other proposals unrelated to gun restrictions from that plan were written into a sweeping school safety bill that the Legislature passed in 2019.
“Our goal is that no child will ever feel afraid at school and no Texas family will ever experience the grief that followed the horrible school shooting at Santa Fe High School,” Patrick said. “The safety of our children remains paramount — the future of Texas depends on it."
The law required certain training for school resource officers and emergency response training for school employees, as well as established a threat assessment team to identify potentially dangerous students and determine the best way to intervene before they become violent. It also created a Texas Mental Health Consortium to bring psychiatric professionals together.
Lawmakers also passed a bill giving more teachers access to guns.
As Abbott signed that legislation at the end of the 2019 legislative session, reporters asked if he still supported a “red flag” law.
Abbott said such a measure wasn’t necessary in Texas “right now.”
Confronted with mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun laws
Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders signaled an openness to some gun restrictions after recent mass shootings. But in the last several years, lawmakers have eased gun laws, most notably by passing a permitless carry bill last year.
www.texastribune.org
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Texas has had eight mass shootings in the past 13 years, while lawmakers have steadily loosened restrictions on carrying firearms
exas has seen eight mass shootings over the last 13 years, and many of them sparked public debate about what legislation should be passed to prevent another one.
While University of Texas polls consistently show that Texans are divided about gun control — with 40% to 50% saying they want stricter gun laws — the vast majority of the laws passed over the past 13 years by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature have expanded where guns are allowed, who can have a firearm in schools and the right to openly carry guns.
The timeline below details how state lawmakers and the public have responded to mass shootings — through legislation and University of Texas polls — since the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
exas has seen eight mass shootings over the last 13 years, and many of them sparked public debate about what legislation should be passed to prevent another one.
While University of Texas polls consistently show that Texans are divided about gun control — with 40% to 50% saying they want stricter gun laws — the vast majority of the laws passed over the past 13 years by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature have expanded where guns are allowed, who can have a firearm in schools and the right to openly carry guns.
The timeline below details how state lawmakers and the public have responded to mass shootings — through legislation and University of Texas polls — since the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
Texas mass shooting timeline: 14 years of violence in Texas
Texas has seen nine mass shootings over the last 14 years while lawmakers have steadily loosened restrictions on carrying firearms.
apps.texastribune.org
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Speaks for itself
www.newsweek.com
Scary Breakdown of School Shootings by Country Goes Viral: 'This Is Insane'
Entrepreneur Rose Nguyen described school shootings as "a uniquely American problem" in tweets calling for tighter gun controls.
www.newsweek.com
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How about gun makers just stop manufacturing these types of weapons
The maker of a gun used in the Texas shooting pulls out of the NRA convention
The manufacturer of a firearm used in the Robb Elementary School shooting said it will not attend the National Rifle Association convention Friday.
"Daniel Defense is not attending the NRA meeting due to the horrifying tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, where one of our products was criminally misused," said Steve Reed, vice president of marketing for Daniel Defense, in a statement. "We believe this week is not the appropriate time to be promoting our products in Texas at the NRA meeting."
A gunman fatally shot 19 children and two teachers at the school earlier this week. Investigators found one of the suspect's AR15-style rifles, manufactured by Daniel Defense, in the school, according Texas state Sen. John Whitmire, who received a briefing from law enforcement.
Gunmakers will also show off their products at an exposition. But Daniel Defense will not be among them. In a statement on its website, the company called Tuesday's school shooting "evil."
www.cnn.com
The maker of a gun used in the Texas shooting pulls out of the NRA convention
The manufacturer of a firearm used in the Robb Elementary School shooting said it will not attend the National Rifle Association convention Friday.
"Daniel Defense is not attending the NRA meeting due to the horrifying tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, where one of our products was criminally misused," said Steve Reed, vice president of marketing for Daniel Defense, in a statement. "We believe this week is not the appropriate time to be promoting our products in Texas at the NRA meeting."
A gunman fatally shot 19 children and two teachers at the school earlier this week. Investigators found one of the suspect's AR15-style rifles, manufactured by Daniel Defense, in the school, according Texas state Sen. John Whitmire, who received a briefing from law enforcement.
Gunmakers will also show off their products at an exposition. But Daniel Defense will not be among them. In a statement on its website, the company called Tuesday's school shooting "evil."
The maker of a gun used in the Texas shooting pulls out of the NRA convention
The manufacturer of a firearm used in the Robb Elementary School shooting said it will not attend the National Rifle Association convention Friday.
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I truly cannot stand this guy ... he makes me sick to my stomach
Trump's Stiff Chant Of Uvalde Victims' Names At NRA Rally Curdles Critics' Blood
He ended his speech praising the National Rifle Association with his trademark "dance" step.
Former President Donald Trump’s mangled recitation of the names of the 21 Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting victims at the National Rifle Association’s convention on Friday made Twitter critics’ blood run cold. The names of the 19 children and two teachers, broken up into hardly recognizable syllables in Trump’s stumbling pronunciation, were interspersed with the funereal sound of a gong.
Despite the tragedy, Trump hailed the NRA in his speech at its convention in Houston and ended his remarks with his trademark clenched fists and “cha-cha-cha” dance move.
www.huffpost.com
Trump's Stiff Chant Of Uvalde Victims' Names At NRA Rally Curdles Critics' Blood
He ended his speech praising the National Rifle Association with his trademark "dance" step.
Former President Donald Trump’s mangled recitation of the names of the 21 Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting victims at the National Rifle Association’s convention on Friday made Twitter critics’ blood run cold. The names of the 19 children and two teachers, broken up into hardly recognizable syllables in Trump’s stumbling pronunciation, were interspersed with the funereal sound of a gong.
Despite the tragedy, Trump hailed the NRA in his speech at its convention in Houston and ended his remarks with his trademark clenched fists and “cha-cha-cha” dance move.
Donald Trump's Stiff Chant Of Uvalde Victims' Names At NRA Rally Curdles Critics' Blood
He ended his speech praising the National Rifle Association with his trademark "dance" step.
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We know what the problem is
America is reeling from yet another devastating spate of mass shootings. In the last 10 days, shooters have targeted a Taiwanese church in California, a grocery store in a Black neighborhood in New York, and an elementary school in Texas. Although opponents of sensible gun control—the kind that prevails throughout most of the civilized world—continue to put the spotlight on the shooters’ motivations or unstable mental states, these are cynical diversions from the one obvious truth: The common thread in all of the country’s revolting mass shootings is the absurdly easy access to guns. The science is clear: Restrictions work, and it’s likely that even more limitations would save thousands of lives. So why not take the laws much further, as other countries have done? The alternative is painfully obvious—living with more and more senseless carnage, courtesy of the National Rifle Association and their well-funded political lackeys.
One argument used to justify continued gun ownership is that mass shootings are often the result of shooters with severe mental illness. No doubt that mental health is a factor. But the rates of mental illness in the United States are similar to those in other countries where mass shootings rarely occur. It’s access to guns that is the problem. Alan Leshner, an expert in mental health research and policy (also the former chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the publisher of Science), wrote about the fallacy of blaming gun violence on mental illness in the wake of another mass shooting tragedy in 2019. Among Leshner’s points are the fact that less than a third of the people who commit mass shootings have a diagnosable mental disorder.
Another argument is that however strict we make gun control laws, would-be shooters would find ways to get around them. This is also misleading. As the 2017 analysis of Cook and Donohue conclusively shows, extending criminal sentences for gun use in violent crime, prohibiting gun ownership by individuals convicted of domestic violence, and restricting the concealed carry of firearms lead to demonstrable reductions in gun violence. It’s not a stretch to assume that further restrictions would save even more lives.
It’s also argued that gun ownership is guaranteed in the Bill of Rights by the Second Amendment. But a lot of things have changed since 1789, and there are many times when the American people have concluded that rights granted at the nation’s founding could not be reconciled with modern conditions and knowledge. It was decided that owning other human beings was not consistent with the founding principles of America. It was decided that prohibiting women from voting was not consistent with a representative democracy. And now it needs to be decided that unfettered gun ownership by American citizens is not consistent with a flourishing country where people can worship, shop, and be educated without fear.
Scientists should not sit on the sidelines and watch others fight this out. More research into the public health impacts of gun ownership will provide further evidence of its deadly consequences. Science can show that gun restrictions make societies safer. Science can show that mental illness is not a determinative factor in mass shootings. And science can show that racism is measurable and leads to violence. >>>>>
America is reeling from yet another devastating spate of mass shootings. In the last 10 days, shooters have targeted a Taiwanese church in California, a grocery store in a Black neighborhood in New York, and an elementary school in Texas. Although opponents of sensible gun control—the kind that prevails throughout most of the civilized world—continue to put the spotlight on the shooters’ motivations or unstable mental states, these are cynical diversions from the one obvious truth: The common thread in all of the country’s revolting mass shootings is the absurdly easy access to guns. The science is clear: Restrictions work, and it’s likely that even more limitations would save thousands of lives. So why not take the laws much further, as other countries have done? The alternative is painfully obvious—living with more and more senseless carnage, courtesy of the National Rifle Association and their well-funded political lackeys.
One argument used to justify continued gun ownership is that mass shootings are often the result of shooters with severe mental illness. No doubt that mental health is a factor. But the rates of mental illness in the United States are similar to those in other countries where mass shootings rarely occur. It’s access to guns that is the problem. Alan Leshner, an expert in mental health research and policy (also the former chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the publisher of Science), wrote about the fallacy of blaming gun violence on mental illness in the wake of another mass shooting tragedy in 2019. Among Leshner’s points are the fact that less than a third of the people who commit mass shootings have a diagnosable mental disorder.
Another argument is that however strict we make gun control laws, would-be shooters would find ways to get around them. This is also misleading. As the 2017 analysis of Cook and Donohue conclusively shows, extending criminal sentences for gun use in violent crime, prohibiting gun ownership by individuals convicted of domestic violence, and restricting the concealed carry of firearms lead to demonstrable reductions in gun violence. It’s not a stretch to assume that further restrictions would save even more lives.
It’s also argued that gun ownership is guaranteed in the Bill of Rights by the Second Amendment. But a lot of things have changed since 1789, and there are many times when the American people have concluded that rights granted at the nation’s founding could not be reconciled with modern conditions and knowledge. It was decided that owning other human beings was not consistent with the founding principles of America. It was decided that prohibiting women from voting was not consistent with a representative democracy. And now it needs to be decided that unfettered gun ownership by American citizens is not consistent with a flourishing country where people can worship, shop, and be educated without fear.
Scientists should not sit on the sidelines and watch others fight this out. More research into the public health impacts of gun ownership will provide further evidence of its deadly consequences. Science can show that gun restrictions make societies safer. Science can show that mental illness is not a determinative factor in mass shootings. And science can show that racism is measurable and leads to violence. >>>>>
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Sen. Chris Murphy Pleads With GOP To Compromise On Gun Control After Texas Shooting | “I’m here on this floor to beg, to literally get down on my hands and knees and beg my colleagues," an emotional Murphy said on the Senate floor.
Sen. Chris Murphy Pleads With GOP To Compromise On Gun Control After Texas Shooting
“I’m here on this floor to beg, to literally get down on my hands and knees and beg my colleagues," an emotional Murphy said on the Senate floor.
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I think American is a nice place (I have visited many times and will do so moving forward)
How is this happening time and time again in your country?
I think IT IS THE GUNS. WAY TOO MANY GUNS. And virtually no federal regulation.
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Nope? Just about every degreed grammarian would disagree with you and Judge Scalia. Maybe a refresher course is in order for you. My verbal SAT score ranked in the top 10th percentile in the nation by the way. How did you do?
No it's not stated in plain English( capitalize English btw) Is the phrase "We the People" singular or plural?
Not really, the construct of due process and equal protection is collective rather than individual. And as a whole especially given the enormous effect that John Locke's political philosophy had on the Constitution's Framers, which traced the idea of collective rights through Locke's Second Treatise that viewed government as trustee and society as the settlor-beneficiary that forms and gives legitimacy to the government. I think the collective viewpoint dominated the Framer's train of thought.
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these kids were gunned down in their own elementary school around 8 days ago.
look at yourself in the mirror and decide if you've already moved on.
look at yourself in the mirror and decide if you've already moved on.
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I could only believe that demolition is the only choice. What children would want to go back to that school or teachers and staff for that matter
Many Uvalde residents want Robb Elementary torn down. The White House has offered to help.
President Joe Biden offered to help secure a federal grant for Robb’s demolition, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez.
UVALDE, Texas — Uvalde residents and elected officials are pushing to raze Robb Elementary, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers Tuesday.
President Joe Biden offered to help the school district secure a federal grant for the building’s demolition, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez said.
“They don’t want to go back into that school,” said Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde. “It certainly needs to be a community decision, but that needs to happen.”
Gutierrez says the White House contacted his office about allocating a School Emergency Response to Violence grant, commonly referred to as a “Project SERV” distribution.
The money is earmarked specifically to help schools “recover from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment is disrupted,” according the Project SERV website.
Past recipients include Newtown Public Schools, home to Sandy Hook, and Texas’s Santa Fe ISD.
“I don’t think anybody’s plans are but to tear that building down,” Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said in an interview with KENS 5. “It needs to be torn down. I would never ask, expect, a child to have to walk through those doors ever, ever again. That building needs to be gone. Taken away. Gone.”
www.kens5.com
Many Uvalde residents want Robb Elementary torn down. The White House has offered to help.
President Joe Biden offered to help secure a federal grant for Robb’s demolition, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez.
UVALDE, Texas — Uvalde residents and elected officials are pushing to raze Robb Elementary, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers Tuesday.
President Joe Biden offered to help the school district secure a federal grant for the building’s demolition, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez said.
“They don’t want to go back into that school,” said Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde. “It certainly needs to be a community decision, but that needs to happen.”
Gutierrez says the White House contacted his office about allocating a School Emergency Response to Violence grant, commonly referred to as a “Project SERV” distribution.
The money is earmarked specifically to help schools “recover from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment is disrupted,” according the Project SERV website.
Past recipients include Newtown Public Schools, home to Sandy Hook, and Texas’s Santa Fe ISD.
“I don’t think anybody’s plans are but to tear that building down,” Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said in an interview with KENS 5. “It needs to be torn down. I would never ask, expect, a child to have to walk through those doors ever, ever again. That building needs to be gone. Taken away. Gone.”
Many Uvalde residents want Robb Elementary torn down. The White House has offered to help.
President Joe Biden offered to help secure a federal grant for Robb’s demolition, according to state Sen. Roland Gutierrez.
www.kens5.com
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Congressman Joaquin Castro joins push to build new school for Robb Elementary students
Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin also weighed in, saying he doesn't expect "a child to ever have to walk through those doors ever and ever again."
UVALDE, Texas — Congressman Joaquin Castro is joining a push to rebuild Robb Elementary in Uvalde so students can have a new place to learn.
He was in Uvalde this weekend and met with some of the families. Here's what he said following his visit:
"These people are going through just unimaginable pain and grief, and you know they asked for a few things: they demanded change on gun reform and gun safety laws. People kept asking me how is it that an 18-year-old can go into a store and buy an AR-15, but he can't even go in and buy beer and cigarettes. They're also concerned about their other little kids who are in elementary school, and they don't want those kids to have to go back into Robb Elementary next year. And so I'm going to be pushing the president and the governor to work together to make sure that they're able to build them a new school. I know that State Senator Roland Gutierrez is working hard on this as well, so those kids who did survive, and their relatives, don't have to go back to Robb Elementary. And then they finally want answers to what happened there. You know it took law enforcement by some accounts, an hour, over an hour, to actually go into that classroom and take out the shooter… and they keep wondering 'Why did it happen to our kids? Why did it happen in Uvalde?' Because we've seen scenarios like this before and this is unprecedented. It's just never happened like this before."
Congressman Joaquin Castro said he understands why Americans are skeptical that anything will change. But, he vows to keep trying.
www.kens5.com
Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin also weighed in, saying he doesn't expect "a child to ever have to walk through those doors ever and ever again."
UVALDE, Texas — Congressman Joaquin Castro is joining a push to rebuild Robb Elementary in Uvalde so students can have a new place to learn.
He was in Uvalde this weekend and met with some of the families. Here's what he said following his visit:
"These people are going through just unimaginable pain and grief, and you know they asked for a few things: they demanded change on gun reform and gun safety laws. People kept asking me how is it that an 18-year-old can go into a store and buy an AR-15, but he can't even go in and buy beer and cigarettes. They're also concerned about their other little kids who are in elementary school, and they don't want those kids to have to go back into Robb Elementary next year. And so I'm going to be pushing the president and the governor to work together to make sure that they're able to build them a new school. I know that State Senator Roland Gutierrez is working hard on this as well, so those kids who did survive, and their relatives, don't have to go back to Robb Elementary. And then they finally want answers to what happened there. You know it took law enforcement by some accounts, an hour, over an hour, to actually go into that classroom and take out the shooter… and they keep wondering 'Why did it happen to our kids? Why did it happen in Uvalde?' Because we've seen scenarios like this before and this is unprecedented. It's just never happened like this before."
Congressman Joaquin Castro said he understands why Americans are skeptical that anything will change. But, he vows to keep trying.
Congressman Joaquin Castro joins push to build new school for Robb Elementary students
Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin also weighed in, saying he doesn't expect "a child to ever have to walk through those doors ever and ever again."
www.kens5.com
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From the Psychiatric Times
Excerpts to keep below 5,000 words
Most Mass Shooters are Terrorists, Not Mentally Ill
There is a common misperception amplified by mainstream media and government officials that people “go crazy” or enter some altered state of consciousness and start shooting. Rather, executing murderous plots such as mass shootings at schools, grocery stores, places of worship, and public events requires a mind that is lucid and capable of producing rational thought, planning, and logical cognitive processing. For example, the 2017 Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival shooter reportedly had extensive notes on distance, trajectory, and wind changes in his hotel room.2 These shooters are often linked with an adherence to ideas and rhetoric that are bandied about as truth on media outlets. On top of that, elected government officials with massive public platforms echo these “truths” and reinforce their so-called legitimacy. The result is a radicalized—not mentally ill—individual absorbing all of this extremist ideology who then takes advantage of the easy access to guns in America.
Highly publicized incidents of gun violence certainly impact those who are horrified by its gruesome details, its criminality, and its cruelty. On the other hand, those with malevolent ideas may perceive a different picture: That gun violence is justified and warranted by civilians in some cases. The acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse after killing 2 unarmed individuals and wounding another sent a loud and dangerous message: These killings may be justifiable in some cases and viewed as legal and moral.3
It is also important to consider that would-be shooters see what happens when these crimes unfold from execution through legal consequences (if the shooter survives the incident). It may be that the Oxford, Michigan, shooter delivered his preattack messages and blood-curdling doodles as a potential prerequisite to an insanity defense.4 In addition, there are a lot of copycat features to the Uvalde shooting that resemble Sandy Hook in 2012.5 A small number of these teenage shooter situations may be either copycat attempts or a “blaze of glory” means to an end in shooters who may be suicidal.6
The misperception of gunmen as “crazy” is damaging. Here’s why.
There is a common misperception amplified by mainstream media and government officials that people “go crazy” or enter some altered state of consciousness and start shooting. Rather, executing murderous plots such as mass shootings at schools, grocery stores, places of worship, and public events requires a mind that is lucid and capable of producing rational thought, planning, and logical cognitive processing. For example, the 2017 Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival shooter reportedly had extensive notes on distance, trajectory, and wind changes in his hotel room.2 These shooters are often linked with an adherence to ideas and rhetoric that are bandied about as truth on media outlets. On top of that, elected government officials with massive public platforms echo these “truths” and reinforce their so-called legitimacy. The result is a radicalized—not mentally ill—individual absorbing all of this extremist ideology who then takes advantage of the easy access to guns in America.
We are not saying that some mass shooters are not seriously mentally ill at the time of their violent acts. That is likely the case in some of these horrific events. Some estimates place the number at about 1 in 5 (or 20%) who have serious mental illness when firing.12 Further, the contribution of serious mental illness to violent crimes involving a gun may be as low as 3%.13 In fact, individuals with mental illness are more likely to be the victims—not the perpetrators—of violent crimes.14
What we are saying is that serious mental illness is not the issue in the majority of these cases. The real problems are easy access to guns, widespread distribution of extremist propaganda and rhetoric, a rise in domestic terrorism, and failure to act by elected officials charged with protecting our citizens. Lastly, quite simply, civilians should not have automatic weapons, and arming guards or teachers is not the solution.6
www.psychiatrictimes.com
Excerpts to keep below 5,000 words
Most Mass Shooters are Terrorists, Not Mentally Ill
There is a common misperception amplified by mainstream media and government officials that people “go crazy” or enter some altered state of consciousness and start shooting. Rather, executing murderous plots such as mass shootings at schools, grocery stores, places of worship, and public events requires a mind that is lucid and capable of producing rational thought, planning, and logical cognitive processing. For example, the 2017 Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival shooter reportedly had extensive notes on distance, trajectory, and wind changes in his hotel room.2 These shooters are often linked with an adherence to ideas and rhetoric that are bandied about as truth on media outlets. On top of that, elected government officials with massive public platforms echo these “truths” and reinforce their so-called legitimacy. The result is a radicalized—not mentally ill—individual absorbing all of this extremist ideology who then takes advantage of the easy access to guns in America.
Highly publicized incidents of gun violence certainly impact those who are horrified by its gruesome details, its criminality, and its cruelty. On the other hand, those with malevolent ideas may perceive a different picture: That gun violence is justified and warranted by civilians in some cases. The acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse after killing 2 unarmed individuals and wounding another sent a loud and dangerous message: These killings may be justifiable in some cases and viewed as legal and moral.3
It is also important to consider that would-be shooters see what happens when these crimes unfold from execution through legal consequences (if the shooter survives the incident). It may be that the Oxford, Michigan, shooter delivered his preattack messages and blood-curdling doodles as a potential prerequisite to an insanity defense.4 In addition, there are a lot of copycat features to the Uvalde shooting that resemble Sandy Hook in 2012.5 A small number of these teenage shooter situations may be either copycat attempts or a “blaze of glory” means to an end in shooters who may be suicidal.6
The misperception of gunmen as “crazy” is damaging. Here’s why.
There is a common misperception amplified by mainstream media and government officials that people “go crazy” or enter some altered state of consciousness and start shooting. Rather, executing murderous plots such as mass shootings at schools, grocery stores, places of worship, and public events requires a mind that is lucid and capable of producing rational thought, planning, and logical cognitive processing. For example, the 2017 Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival shooter reportedly had extensive notes on distance, trajectory, and wind changes in his hotel room.2 These shooters are often linked with an adherence to ideas and rhetoric that are bandied about as truth on media outlets. On top of that, elected government officials with massive public platforms echo these “truths” and reinforce their so-called legitimacy. The result is a radicalized—not mentally ill—individual absorbing all of this extremist ideology who then takes advantage of the easy access to guns in America.
We are not saying that some mass shooters are not seriously mentally ill at the time of their violent acts. That is likely the case in some of these horrific events. Some estimates place the number at about 1 in 5 (or 20%) who have serious mental illness when firing.12 Further, the contribution of serious mental illness to violent crimes involving a gun may be as low as 3%.13 In fact, individuals with mental illness are more likely to be the victims—not the perpetrators—of violent crimes.14
What we are saying is that serious mental illness is not the issue in the majority of these cases. The real problems are easy access to guns, widespread distribution of extremist propaganda and rhetoric, a rise in domestic terrorism, and failure to act by elected officials charged with protecting our citizens. Lastly, quite simply, civilians should not have automatic weapons, and arming guards or teachers is not the solution.6
Most Mass Shooters are Terrorists, Not Mentally Ill
The misperception of gunmen as “crazy” is damaging. Here’s why.
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In order to take an assault weapon into a theater, a restaurant or a school and start shooting people randomly you have to be mentally ill, right?
Would a sane, perfectly lucid person do such a thing?
However, if we can conclude after a mass shooting that the shooter was mentally disturbed, than perhaps we can console ourselves with the thought that there is a rational explanation for why it happened. We don’t have to think about why such tragic events happen or how society needs to change. A mentally ill person who is responsible for a horrific tragedy can be locked away and we can go on with our lives.
But, what if mass shooters are not mentally ill? How do we explain a mass shooting? How do we handle it psychologically?
A new study is questioning the mental state of mass shooters. The research, co-led by Gary Brucato, research scientist in Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry in New York City, along with his colleagues sought to gain much-needed insight into the relationship between serious mental illness and mass shootings. Creating a mass murder database involved extensive review of 14,785 murders publicly described in English in print or online, occurring worldwide between 1900 and 2019. They then analyzed 1,315 mass murders of all types that occurred worldwide. The article was published recently in the journal Psychological Medicine.
They discovered that only 11% of all mass murderers (including shooters) and only 8% of mass shooters had a serious mental illness. They also found that mass shooters in the United States were more likely to have legal histories, use recreational drugs, abuse alcohol, and have histories of non-psychotic psychiatric or neurologic symptoms.
In addition, the researchers noted that most mass shooters used non-automatic firearms. Among U.S. mass shooters, those with any psychiatric or neurologic condition were more likely to use semi-automatic guns than non-automatic guns. They also found that since 1970, the rate of mass shootings has been far higher than the rate of non-firearm mass murder, and that the vast majority of mass shootings in the world have been in the United States.
Commenting on the study, Gary Brucato said that "The findings from this potentially definitive study suggest that emphasis on serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or psychotic mood disorders, as a risk factor for mass shootings is given undue emphasis, leading to public fear and stigmatization."
Brucato and his colleagues also indicated that their findings could help inform how background checks for gun purchases should be conducted. Furthermore, co-author Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a Columbia psychiatrist, said that "These data suggest that other difficulties, such as legal problems, substance and alcohol use, and difficulty coping with life events seem more useful foci for prevention and policy than an emphasis on serious mental illness."
The bottom line is that if the United States has more mass murders than any other country and if we cannot write off the shooters as just somehow psychotic people, then what are we left with?
That answer to this question may be more troubling than concern about caring for the mentally ill in our country. Maybe we have to examine the reasons why we produce mass murderers and how – and why – we foster their development.
To read the original article, find it with this reference:
Gary Brucato et al. (2021). Psychotic symptoms in mass shootings v. mass murders not involving firearms: findings from the Columbia mass murder database. Psychological Medicine (2021). DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721000076
www.michiganpsychologicalassociation.org
Would a sane, perfectly lucid person do such a thing?
However, if we can conclude after a mass shooting that the shooter was mentally disturbed, than perhaps we can console ourselves with the thought that there is a rational explanation for why it happened. We don’t have to think about why such tragic events happen or how society needs to change. A mentally ill person who is responsible for a horrific tragedy can be locked away and we can go on with our lives.
But, what if mass shooters are not mentally ill? How do we explain a mass shooting? How do we handle it psychologically?
A new study is questioning the mental state of mass shooters. The research, co-led by Gary Brucato, research scientist in Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry in New York City, along with his colleagues sought to gain much-needed insight into the relationship between serious mental illness and mass shootings. Creating a mass murder database involved extensive review of 14,785 murders publicly described in English in print or online, occurring worldwide between 1900 and 2019. They then analyzed 1,315 mass murders of all types that occurred worldwide. The article was published recently in the journal Psychological Medicine.
They discovered that only 11% of all mass murderers (including shooters) and only 8% of mass shooters had a serious mental illness. They also found that mass shooters in the United States were more likely to have legal histories, use recreational drugs, abuse alcohol, and have histories of non-psychotic psychiatric or neurologic symptoms.
In addition, the researchers noted that most mass shooters used non-automatic firearms. Among U.S. mass shooters, those with any psychiatric or neurologic condition were more likely to use semi-automatic guns than non-automatic guns. They also found that since 1970, the rate of mass shootings has been far higher than the rate of non-firearm mass murder, and that the vast majority of mass shootings in the world have been in the United States.
Commenting on the study, Gary Brucato said that "The findings from this potentially definitive study suggest that emphasis on serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia or psychotic mood disorders, as a risk factor for mass shootings is given undue emphasis, leading to public fear and stigmatization."
Brucato and his colleagues also indicated that their findings could help inform how background checks for gun purchases should be conducted. Furthermore, co-author Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a Columbia psychiatrist, said that "These data suggest that other difficulties, such as legal problems, substance and alcohol use, and difficulty coping with life events seem more useful foci for prevention and policy than an emphasis on serious mental illness."
The bottom line is that if the United States has more mass murders than any other country and if we cannot write off the shooters as just somehow psychotic people, then what are we left with?
That answer to this question may be more troubling than concern about caring for the mentally ill in our country. Maybe we have to examine the reasons why we produce mass murderers and how – and why – we foster their development.
To read the original article, find it with this reference:
Gary Brucato et al. (2021). Psychotic symptoms in mass shootings v. mass murders not involving firearms: findings from the Columbia mass murder database. Psychological Medicine (2021). DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721000076
Are All Mass Shooters Mentally Ill?
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A crime scene outline of the Robb Elementary School is presented showing the path of the gunman as the Director and Colonel of the Texas Department of Public Safety Steven C. McCraw speaks at a press conference outside the school in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022.
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This is how the shooting unfolded:
September 2021
Salvador Ramos asks his sister to purchase him a gun, according to Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. She flatly refuses.
Feb. 28, 2022
In a four-person group chat on Instagram, Ramos discusses being a school shooter, according to McCraw.
March 1
In a four-person group chat on Instagram, Ramos discusses buying a gun, according to McCraw.
March 3
In a four-person group chat on Instagram, according to McCraw, a user says to Ramos, "word on the street is you're buying a gun." Ramos replies, "Just bought something. RN."
March 14
Ramos posts on Instagram, "10 more days." A user replies, "are you going to shoot up a school or something?" Ramos responds, "No. And stop asking dumb questions. You'll see."
March 20
Ramos moves in with his 66-year-old grandmother, Celia, according to McCraw, from a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Around May 9
Ramos meets "Cece," the recipient of several messages Ramos sent on the day of the shooting, on the social media app Yubo, she told ABC News.
The teen, who lives in Germany, said she and Ramos would "join each other's live" streams on Yubo.
Cece alleged that there were other warning signs in hindsight, including that Ramos would ask others on Yubo "if they would want to be famous on the news."
May 16
Ramos turns 18, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and multiple law enforcement sources.
May 17
Ramos buys a semi-automatic rifle at a local sporting goods store called Oasis Outback, McCraw said.
May 18
Ramos purchases 375 rounds of ammunition for that rifle, McCraw said. It is not known where he purchased that ammunition.
Friday, May 20
Ramos buys a second semi-automatic rifle at the same store, McCraw said.
Tuesday, May 24
Morning: An Instagram account that law enforcement sources tell ABC News they believe is connected to Ramos sent another user on the social media platform a photo of a gun lying on a bed, according to a user who shared direct messages from the suspect's alleged account with ABC News.
11 a.m.: Ramos allegedly had three one-on-one direct communications on Facebook with Cece. The first message said he was going to shoot his grandmother, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press conference last Tuesday.
Another one-on-one message said he had shot his grandmother, and the third said he was going to shoot an elementary school, but did not specify the school, Abbott said.
It is not believed Cece saw the messages until after the shooting occurred.
Shortly after 11:00 a.m.: Ramos shot his 66-year-old grandmother in the head at their residence, according to McCraw. He flees. She was able to run across the street and call police, McCraw said. She was taken to the hospital via helicopter but is expected to survive.
11:27 a.m.: A Robb Elementary School teacher exits the school's west-facing entrance door to transport food from her parked car to the classroom, The Associated Press reported and the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday. The teacher witnesses the car wreck and runs inside to retrieve her phone, using a rock to keep the door propped open.
Complete timeline: https://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-shooting-texas-elementary-school-unfolded/story?id=84966910
September 2021
Salvador Ramos asks his sister to purchase him a gun, according to Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. She flatly refuses.
Feb. 28, 2022
In a four-person group chat on Instagram, Ramos discusses being a school shooter, according to McCraw.
March 1
In a four-person group chat on Instagram, Ramos discusses buying a gun, according to McCraw.
March 3
In a four-person group chat on Instagram, according to McCraw, a user says to Ramos, "word on the street is you're buying a gun." Ramos replies, "Just bought something. RN."
March 14
Ramos posts on Instagram, "10 more days." A user replies, "are you going to shoot up a school or something?" Ramos responds, "No. And stop asking dumb questions. You'll see."
March 20
Ramos moves in with his 66-year-old grandmother, Celia, according to McCraw, from a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Around May 9
Ramos meets "Cece," the recipient of several messages Ramos sent on the day of the shooting, on the social media app Yubo, she told ABC News.
The teen, who lives in Germany, said she and Ramos would "join each other's live" streams on Yubo.
Cece alleged that there were other warning signs in hindsight, including that Ramos would ask others on Yubo "if they would want to be famous on the news."
May 16
Ramos turns 18, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and multiple law enforcement sources.
May 17
Ramos buys a semi-automatic rifle at a local sporting goods store called Oasis Outback, McCraw said.
May 18
Ramos purchases 375 rounds of ammunition for that rifle, McCraw said. It is not known where he purchased that ammunition.
Friday, May 20
Ramos buys a second semi-automatic rifle at the same store, McCraw said.
Tuesday, May 24
Morning: An Instagram account that law enforcement sources tell ABC News they believe is connected to Ramos sent another user on the social media platform a photo of a gun lying on a bed, according to a user who shared direct messages from the suspect's alleged account with ABC News.
11 a.m.: Ramos allegedly had three one-on-one direct communications on Facebook with Cece. The first message said he was going to shoot his grandmother, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press conference last Tuesday.
Another one-on-one message said he had shot his grandmother, and the third said he was going to shoot an elementary school, but did not specify the school, Abbott said.
It is not believed Cece saw the messages until after the shooting occurred.
Shortly after 11:00 a.m.: Ramos shot his 66-year-old grandmother in the head at their residence, according to McCraw. He flees. She was able to run across the street and call police, McCraw said. She was taken to the hospital via helicopter but is expected to survive.
11:27 a.m.: A Robb Elementary School teacher exits the school's west-facing entrance door to transport food from her parked car to the classroom, The Associated Press reported and the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday. The teacher witnesses the car wreck and runs inside to retrieve her phone, using a rock to keep the door propped open.
Complete timeline: https://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-shooting-texas-elementary-school-unfolded/story?id=84966910
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Gun Safety Policies Save Lives
Which states have the ideal laws to prevent gun violence?
We compared gun policy across the country, scoring every state on the strength of its gun laws and comparing it with its rate of gun violence. In states where elected officials have taken action to pass gun safety laws, fewer people die by gun violence. Choose a state to see how it stacks up on 50 key policies, or explore a policy to see how much of the country has adopted it.
everytownresearch.org
Which states have the ideal laws to prevent gun violence?
We compared gun policy across the country, scoring every state on the strength of its gun laws and comparing it with its rate of gun violence. In states where elected officials have taken action to pass gun safety laws, fewer people die by gun violence. Choose a state to see how it stacks up on 50 key policies, or explore a policy to see how much of the country has adopted it.
Gun Safety Policies Save Lives
Compares gun policy across 50 states. In states where elected officials have taken action to pass gun laws, fewer people die by gun violence.
everytownresearch.org
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I think you're talking to yourself. Little kids got their faces blown off in elementary school and a bunch of people have already moved on.Gun Safety Policies Save Lives
Which states have the ideal laws to prevent gun violence?
We compared gun policy across the country, scoring every state on the strength of its gun laws and comparing it with its rate of gun violence. In states where elected officials have taken action to pass gun safety laws, fewer people die by gun violence. Choose a state to see how it stacks up on 50 key policies, or explore a policy to see how much of the country has adopted it.
Gun Safety Policies Save Lives
Compares gun policy across 50 states. In states where elected officials have taken action to pass gun laws, fewer people die by gun violence.
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No one will ever make me forget ......... or move on. Just wish I did not feel so powerless
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