Mass Murder Myths - A prosecutor's report debunks misconceptions about the Sandy Hook massacre.

Reason ^ | March 2014 | Jacob Sullum

[neverdem]

In December 2012, less than a week after Adam Lanza murdered 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, the New York Post described his "eerie lair of violent video games," where he "obliterated virtual victims until the virtual became a reality." The Post reported that the troubled 20-year-old "was enthralled by blood-splattering, shoot-'em-up electronic games."

The official report on the massacre, released in November by State's Attorney Steven Sedensky, paints a more complicated picture. It casts doubt on the significance of Lanza's gaming habits as well as several other theories about why Lanza killed or how he could have been stopped.

Contrary to the impression created by stories focusing on Lanza's enthusiasm for violent titles such as Call of Duty, he enjoyed a wide variety of games. "One person described the shooter as spending the majority of his time playing non-violent video games all day," the report says, "with his favorite at one point being 'Super Mario Brothers.'"

Another game that "enthralled" Lanza in the months before the massacre: Dance Dance Revolution, which he played at a local movie theater for hours at a time every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If it seems absurd to portray Lanza's obsession with dance moves as a warning sign of the violence to come, it is only slightly less absurd to imply that "shoot-'em-up electronic games" enjoyed by millions of young people who never hurt anyone turned him into a mass murderer.

There is a similar problem with the theory that mental illness made him do it. "The shooter had significant mental health issues that affected his ability to live a normal life and to interact with others," the report says, but "whether this contributed in any way is unknown." Lanza was anxious, isolated, socially awkward, rigid, and persnickety -traits his mother attributed to Asperger syndrome. But as The New York Times noted in November, "there is no evidence that people with Asperger's are more likely than others to commit violent crimes."

Nor were there signs before the massacre that Lanza himself was prone to violence. "Those mental health professionals who saw him did not see anything that would have predicted his future behavior," the report says. "Investigators have not discovered any evidence that the shooter voiced or gave any indication to others that he intended to commit such a crime."

Lanza did not have the sort of psychiatric (or criminal) history that would have disqualified him from owning firearms, which is one reason strengthening the background check system for gun buyers makes no sense as a response to the Sandy Hook massacre. Another reason: "All of the firearms were legally purchased by the shooter's mother." Connecticut has since banned the rifle Lanza used, a Bushmaster XM-15-E2S. But the ban does not apply to guns owned before it took effect, and equally lethal weapons remain legal.

Connecticut's new 10-round limit on magazines likewise exempts equipment already in circulation. Even if it didn't, the limit's relevance to Lanza's attack is debatable. According to Sedensky's report, Lanza fired 154 rounds over five or six minutes-about one round every two seconds. That is not a particularly fast rate, and there is little reason to think it would have made a significant difference if Lanza somehow had been compelled to use 16 10-round magazines rather than six 30-round magazines.

When Lanza shot himself in the head, a minute before the first police officer entered the school, he still had almost 300 rounds for the rifle and two pistols he was carrying. That suggests ammunition was not a limiting factor.

Easy answers are appealing in the wake of such a horrifying crime. But more than a year later, we should recognize the folly of trying to explain the inexplicable or prevent the unpreventable.

[Nifster]

That’s right no one was buried and there were no grieving parents.

Oh yeah and why not have him investigate all those Jews who didn’t show up for work on 9/11. And while he is at it he can finally let us know where they stashed all those people who didn’t die in airplane crashes that day.

Good grief. I expect better thought processes from those here at FR

[.45 Long Colt]

Okay, I just went to Youtube and there are tons of videos on Sandy Hook. One of the first ones listed was a new video labeled “School Safety Expert Threatened For Questioning Sandy Hook.” That must the same guy I was told about. I am saving it so I can watch it tomorrow if I have time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6roDPt1WYYY

[lightman]

"eerie lair of violent video games," where he "obliterated virtual victims until the virtual became a reality." The Post reported that the troubled 20-year-old "was enthralled by blood-splattering, shoot-'em-up electronic games.",

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dave Grossman has been warning of this for decades.

[KC Burke]

Thanks bud — quit an outlandish find.

[.45 Long Colt]

I never said I think Sandy Hook was a hoax. Frankly I was shocked anyone believed it was a hoax. Even though I don’t put anything past the tyrants running our nation, I can’t imagine how such a hoax could be pulled off. That said, I see nothing wrong with merely reporting that a school safety expert who has studied it believes no children died. You disagree. That’s fine.

[.45 Long Colt]

Outlandish indeed. I readily admit it sounds crazy.

[Scoutmaster]

Yes, he used the Bushmaster. Within hours, the coroner or medical examiner confirmed that.

The conspiracy nonsense about Lanza likely started with the video clip of police removing a shotgun from the trunk of Lanza's car and the reporter calling it an AR-15.

Once that was posted, conspiracy bloggers (and some FReepers) continued to report that the Bushmaster wasn't used.

It didn't matter how many times other FReepers posted links to articles quoting authorities that the Bushmaster was used, or links to the video with the police pulling a shotgun (the "AR-15") from Lanza's car trunk, some people would rather climb a tree to spread conspiracy theories about Sandy Hook than stand on the ground and pay attention to truths that have been explained to them over and over.

[EarlT357]

Not as bizarre as the whole Sandy Hook scenario! No grieving parents-—find me one tear on any parent! No death certificates for any “victims”. No open caskets for funerals. No formal crime scene was ever established that day. No 600 students seen to be picked up. No cellphone videos of any of part of that event. The iconic photo of the “Children Led from the school” is admitted to be from an earlier drill. Gene Rosen, “savior of five children” tells five different versions of his story and is on video at the Fire House at the time he was supposed to have been watching his little brood. In one video of Gene recounting his tale, he has long, white-greyish hair, at the Fire House, he's neatly trimmed and has brown hair, almost as if that was filmed on a different day! Photos of the front of the school show a huge hole in the glass allegedly for entry of the gunman, but oddly no furniture was disturbed immediately inside of that broken glass. No photos exist of Adam at the front of the school, despite a new security camera installed there at the school. School nurse claims she spent four hours in a closet in the school office, after Lt Vance said his CSP crews swept every inch of that building immediately after arriving.....more and more hinkyness about this whole episode. Watch a couple of the YouTube videos and see for yourself.

[Nifster]

My point apparently was over your head. Be sure and let us know the next time a fake moon landing story comes out.

[metmom]

Good article.

Thanks for posting it.

[kelly4c]

Yeah, I read something awhile back regarding recommendation of new procedures being put into place, specifically after Columbine, that would advise police to engage even in a “warm” situation where they would place high importance on stopping “hemorrhagic” situations so as to reduce severe injury, loss of life. In other words, instead of police requiring a totally secure situation with all potential/possible threats eliminated before stepping in to help victims they can now actually put priority on getting in to help those bleeding to death in a more timely fashion.

I’m guessing that since we’ve all heard that the police are instructed to put their own safety above anything else, it’s probably safe to say that what they’ve been doing in some of these shooting situations is waiting it out. Look up the Chestershire murders. They set up a perimeter. And then waited until the perps came out and try to drive off before they apprehend them and then an injured victim (the father in the home) stumbles onto the lawn. He stated he saw the swat team members hiding among the trees before/as he called out for help. Meanwhile his wife and 2 daughters are dead inside and the house has been lit on fire.

[RWB Patriot]

“Lanza was anxious, isolated, socially awkward, rigid, and persnickety -traits his mother attributed to Asperger syndrome. But as The New York Times noted in November, “there is no evidence that people with Asperger’s are more likely than others to commit violent crimes.”

I have a mild Asperger’s Syndrome and while I don’t think it’s made me any more violent than anyone else, it does make life very frustrating sometimes when dealing with other people.

[kelly4c]

I’m also shocked at the interviews that took place within days of these parents losing their beautiful little children. one of the mothers even commented on her being put together well (hair and makeup) because that is what her child would have wanted, or something to that effect. And the photo of the remaining Parker child/children smiling so broadly with Obama you would think they were at a party. I know they say everyone greives differently but there are normal stages of grief and when a little child is murdered so horrifically it is abnormal imo to be in the “fondly remembering the great person they were” with a smile on your face just 2 days afterward. Lots of things don’t add up in this tragedy. I listened to a few 911 calls they released and one thing I can think of right now is how the operator actually takes a call, stated they know what’s going on adn then says OK “bye bye” to one of the teachers after she called in the incident. Granted yes they knew something was going on, she wasn’t the first call, but don’t they normally keep people on the phone until help arrives? Ot at least try and reassure people? They didn’t sound very reassuring to me.

[.45 Long Colt]

I can’t understand someone on your level. That must be it. I bet you believe Obama is eligible for the presidency and that Fast and Furious was a typical law enforcement operation.

See, what’s infuriating about you is that I can’t defend myself against your nonsense without seeming to defend the idea Sandy Hook is a hoax when I clearly said I don’t know a thing about it.

The difference between us is that when a former fed who is now a known school safety expert makes such a strong claim, knowing he is putting his school consulting business on the line, I am at least willing to see what he has to say. I am a lawyer. In my world it pays to be skeptical of everything I am told.

[bgill]

His investigation has led him to conclude NO children were killed at Sandy Hook.

Not much time is needed to figure it out when the fire chief's ex just happened to be the school secretary and was the first to call it in (and no, she wasn't asked to stay on the phone until help arrived). She and the school nurse just happened to have stayed hidden in the office closet for over 4 hours after the cops declared the school cleared. That office just happened to be where the cops were staging. The fire chief was not once expressed concern with the mother of his children not coming out of the school for all those hours. Now, sit down for this because it's a doozie. Their son just happens to be a FEMA Emergency Management Analyst who conducts these drills. Yep, just do a search for Junior.

[Nifster]

He is a self proclaimed school safety expert. He was a high school principal and then formed his own for profit company to sell his expertise on ‘school safety’. As is usual with most of these crack pots, he has conflated his CV.

you on the other hand seem to think that any investigation is valid and ought to be discussed.

I learned early in life that some things are not worth my time or energy.

You grand intelligence leads you to conclude things about me that are neither true nor provable by any post I have mad on FR

[.45 Long Colt]

“You grand intelligence leads you to conclude things about me that are neither true nor provable by any post I have mad on FR”

Back at ya. You don’t know me and I don’t know you. I do know your overreaction seems unhinged. Have you pestered all the FReepers who have expressed doubt on Sandy Hook?

I never suggested you or anyone else spend one second on this. And for the record, I have spent more time responding to you than I have on Sandy Hook. I merely relayed something I was told by a man I know who happens to be a former intelligence officer who is now in the security business himself. Shoot me for repeating what he said.

Drop it.

[GOPJ]

I think it was meds too...

[Nifster]

” However, a few days ago I became aware of a former detective...”

Your words. You wanted to puff up an ‘investigation’ by a self promoting nut job who has done the rounds of all the conspiracy talkers. The man for most of his life was a high school principal. He started a for profit ‘school security’ business (of which he was president. it is now defunct). He puffed his credentials. He makes outlandish comments.

You thought that this was important enough to post about. And now you complain because somehow tells you exactly how nutty the whole theory is.

Call me when the sun rises in the west

[.45 Long Colt]

What’s funny is that you know more about this man than I do. I didn’t know any of that. I’ve never heard of him or his theories before.

Please leave me alone.