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Reducing the risk of copycat killers
Rocky Mountain News ^ | 15 dec 07 | Dave Kopel

Posted on 12/15/2007 7:46:34 AM PST by rellimpank

The way the media cover an event influences whether there will be repetitions. For example, if a fan runs onto the field during a baseball game, the broadcast cameras usually avoid showing pictures of the fan. The TV producers know that the fan on the field is seeking attention, and that, presumably, getting his picture on television will reward him. Moreover, broadcasting the man's antics would encourage copycats.

Killing time at a baseball game is a tiny misdeed, compared to killing people, but many media decisions have the effect of encouraging copycat murders.

Last April, The Denver Post published on its front page five "glamour shots" that the Virginia Tech murderer had taken of himself, and sent to NBC. On Wednesday, the Post ran a front-page picture of the young man who killed two at a youth missionary center in Arvada and two others at a church in Colorado Springs, along with very large-type excerpts from the killer's rantings. In the first sentence, the killer compared himself to the Virginia Tech killer.

(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; US: Colorado; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: banglist; denverpost; media; nbcnews; newlifechurch; virginiatech
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--this should be tattooed on the eyeballs of some print and TV executives--
1 posted on 12/15/2007 7:46:36 AM PST by rellimpank
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To: rellimpank
... if a fan runs onto the field during a baseball game, the broadcast cameras usually avoid showing pictures of the fan. The TV producers know that the fan on the field is seeking attention, and that, presumably, getting his picture on television will reward him. Moreover, broadcasting the man's antics would encourage copycats. Killing time at a baseball game is a tiny misdeed, compared to killing people, but many media decisions have the effect of encouraging copycat murders.

Sick, but true.

2 posted on 12/15/2007 7:49:41 AM PST by GOPJ (Dems! Would you trust a pilot's wife to land a plane just because she's a frequent flyer??)
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To: GOPJ

The media will be responsible and refrain from granting these heinous murderers the attention they crave. /sarc>


3 posted on 12/15/2007 7:53:53 AM PST by The_Media_never_lie
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To: rellimpank
I do not like guns.

However, I an considering a concealed carry permit and buying a pistol so that, should I have the misfortune to come accross such a scene, I could end it like the lady in Colorado.

4 posted on 12/15/2007 7:55:49 AM PST by The_Media_never_lie
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To: The_Media_never_lie

Good luck with that. There are plenty of gun owners and shooters here at FR who can advise you on your first handgun...


5 posted on 12/15/2007 8:00:31 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (ENERGY CRISIS made in Washington D. C.)
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To: rellimpank
If I were in charge of the media, I would institute the same rule for hiding the name of mass killers as is commonly used to shield the name of rape victims. I would replace the name of murderer with "another friggin' murdering bastard" and instead of showing the guy's photo, I would show the same generic photo of some ugly baboon. Thus my articles would ALWAYS read like the following:

In Omaha today, another friggin' murdering bastard opened fire in a shopping mall

6 posted on 12/15/2007 8:05:55 AM PST by PackerBronco
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To: The_Media_never_lie

You don’t have to like guns to own one for protection. Just make sure you get some good training and instruction on how to handle one.


7 posted on 12/15/2007 8:09:13 AM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: The_Media_never_lie

Hi. I’m a gunsmith/gunstore owner and would be glad to privately advise you with any questions. Arming yourself is a big responsibility and one that should be undertaken with a maximum of understanding of all facets of the issue, i.e. legal, tactical, equipage, etc.

Good luck in your quest.


8 posted on 12/15/2007 8:11:30 AM PST by ExpatGator (Extending logic since 1961.)
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To: The_Media_never_lie

If you do decide to purchase a firearm and get licensed for that reason, may I suggest very strongly two things: go to a pistol range and practice, practice, practice your marksmanship, and mentally prepare yourself to do the thing which you are contemplating. If you are not mentally prepared, you will either hesitate or freeze and accomplish exactly nothing.
Also, be aware, that even if you do purchase a firearm and get your CCW permit, the odds are you will never, ever need it. You have a better chance of being killed in an auto accident than being involved in such a shooting. You should also be aware that the mall shooting, as do most such shootings, occurred in a “gun-free zone”. As a responsible CCW permit holder, you would not be armed in that building anyway.


9 posted on 12/15/2007 8:14:32 AM PST by Ogrrre ("A Communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-Communist is someone who understands Marx." Reagan)
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To: PackerBronco

i would only add the word “moron” to that ... murdering moron bastard...

and then take all his worldly possessions away and give to the victims fund... even his family’s...

teeman


10 posted on 12/15/2007 8:27:34 AM PST by teeman8r
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To: Ogrrre
If you are not mentally prepared, you will either hesitate or freeze and accomplish exactly nothing.

Words to take to the bank. If you wait to figure out what to do in an emergency, it's too late. I know, I've been in a few emergencies, not with guns, but other dangerous situations such as small boats in storms.

The rule certainly applies to driving. What should you do if a small animal runs out in front of your car? What should you do if the guy coming toward you on a two-lane road goes into a trance and starts drifting over into your lane?

One of my sons totaled a truck last summer and almost got himself killed, because a hedgehog strolled out in front of him. He automatically steered around it, and as a result ran off a dirt road into a ditch and a tree. So, which is more important, the life of a man or the life of a hedgehog? And what if you can't afford a new truck and you need it for your work? Better to consider such questions before they occur.

11 posted on 12/15/2007 8:28:38 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: rellimpank

This is common sense, but the brain dead MSM will deny, deny, deny because it makes them more involved in promoting the mass shootings than all the gun manufacturers in the world.


12 posted on 12/15/2007 8:54:25 AM PST by marktwain
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To: rellimpank

The MSM promotes their profit line at the expense of the victims of mass murderers.

You don’t see any gun manufacturers using these mass murderers as their poster boys.


13 posted on 12/15/2007 8:55:53 AM PST by marktwain
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To: The_Media_never_lie
I do not like guns.

I understand that there are negative feelings toward guns, but really they are innocuous when following the basic rules of safe gun handling. Don't let the media's portrayals or criminals' use of guns cause you to fear.

Good luck on your pursuit of a concealed carry permit.

14 posted on 12/15/2007 8:59:08 AM PST by Hazwaste (Now with added lemony freshness!)
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To: The_Media_never_lie
I do not like guns.

They are no more dangerous than this:
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

. . . or this:

15 posted on 12/15/2007 9:04:32 AM PST by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: Ogrrre
...may I suggest very strongly two things: go to a pistol range and practice, practice, practice..."

You left out a step.

16 posted on 12/15/2007 9:08:01 AM PST by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: rellimpank

This all presumes that the media DOESN’T want more mass murders they can use to sell soap, along with their anti-gun leftist agenda.

Honestly, I believe that a federal prohibition on revealing such information would NOT violate the first amendment (for public safety reasons.) I may be wrong, but some enterprising Congressman seeking to get some national attention could introduce such a bill, and start the dialogue (”voluntary” media standards might result.)


17 posted on 12/15/2007 9:08:35 AM PST by Atlas Sneezed ("We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them, I won't chip away at them" -Mitt Romney)
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To: Ogrrre

“go to a pistol range and practice, practice, practice your marksmanship, “

One of my pieces of advice for new shooters that are a little nervous, is that after the basic training, shoot a couple of hundred rounds, shoot until you are sick of shooting, shoot until your hand is sore and the pistol is totally demystified for you, and then get someone to show you how to do a thorough cleaning of it.

Make that pistol yours, load it, unload it, draw it, clean it, strip it of any emotional baggage, see it for your warm, good friend that it is.


18 posted on 12/15/2007 9:45:25 AM PST by ansel12 (“Sanctuary Mansion? The savings help me to become leader of the anti-illegal worker war. Romney 08)
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To: Ogrrre
As a responsible CCW permit holder, you would not be armed in that building anyway.

Actually, you probably wouldn't even be IN most of those buildings.

If a property owner wants to put up signs saying "TRAINED, LAW-ABIDING CONCEALED-CARRY PERMIT HOLDERS NOT WELCOME HERE," then screw 'em. They're not worthy of your business anyway.

And they can deal later on with the massive civil liability lawsuits when some maniac takes 'em up on the welcome mat, and comes in their cute little "gun-free" zone and murders and maims their customers.

19 posted on 12/15/2007 9:47:50 AM PST by Luke Skyfreeper
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To: Beelzebubba; rellimpank

Without pictures how is the media expected to get gun control to beccome a primary MUST DO issue?


20 posted on 12/15/2007 9:54:07 AM PST by B4Ranch (( "Freedom is not free, but don't worry the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." ))
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