Spree shooters: Predictable, preventable behavior

Adam Lanza


By: Mike Keleher
12/26/2012 11:48 AM



In the horrific aftermath of the shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn, the mall shooting in Oregon, and the Batman movie shooting in Colorado 2012 has been a tragic year marked by outrageous violence.

Many media commentators and elected officials have made comments about the inevitability of additional attacks and how we are defenseless to prevent other similar murders unless we make other gun restrictions above and beyond current laws which make all of these behaviors illegal.

The public also appears to have an insatiable appetite for information about the causes of these spree killers who theoretically just “snapped” and went on their homicidal path.

Both concepts of inevitability and the idea people just snapped are flawed. The purported inevitability of attacks, coupled with the concept these killers suddenly became homicidal with no known motivation, is certainly sensational, but unsupported by research into this type of attack.

Knee jerk concepts of “gun control” is also a flawed concept since criminals don’t abide by gun laws or cease their behavior due to additional taxes or amount of available ammunition. The law abiding public is affected, but murderers and criminals do not suddenly throw up their arms in surrender over a new law.

They did not just snap

This type of terrible homicidal violence is not conducted in the spur of the moment. Review of the American and foreign school shootings have always found elaborate planning by the shooters. The study of attack locations, identification of unsuspecting soft targets in “gun free zones” and elaborate attack plans are often combined with computer research about suicide, homicide and weapons.

These heinous felons seem to be very fond of assembling all of their elaborate gear over a period of time like camouflage or tactical clothing, knives, weapons and ammunition. This is very organized behavior by individuals who are often labeled as having mental health issues or believed to be insane or “they just snapped.”

Clearly, anyone who engages in this terrible criminal behavior is making a large number of decisions over an extended time which can be identified as heading towards lethal behavior and 30 second news sound bytes looking for “the cause” or “the final straw” that made this shooter go berserk is not going to see the actual picture.

The truth is the actual motivation for the shooter may be unfathomable to the public at large. This behavior is so unreasonable to us it appears alien. Interestingly enough, the term “alienist” was applied to psychologists and psychiatrists in the early 1900’s when they studied murderers who were alienated from normal human emotions and connections, or whose acts were so outside the realm of “normal” they were deemed to be “alien“ to human nature.

There is obviously no excuse for killing defenseless groups of people, and this “insane behavior” makes no sense. From the shooter’s side, they don’t worry about making sense, they are making decisions based upon their own thoughts, advancing violent plans and showing clear intent to harm all in furtherance of their own perceived grievances or issues.

In the American society, violence is often inflicted in the heat of passion, or under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Spree killers are not acting out in the moment, they don’t snap-they are long term planners who may have a passion, but the execution is in cold blood. They may extend their anger or passion over extended time periods, building plans based on old events or even an emerging situation that dove tails into their old programming and grudges. It makes sense to them, not necessarily to anyone else. How could rational people make such plans even to the point that they may include committing suicide after they have executed their big plan or statement to the world?

These attacks are not inevitable

This long planned violence is not inevitable, and does not exist in a cloak of unidentifiable secrecy. Much like sharks or other dangerous animals who exhibit exaggerated attack behaviors prior to attack; these deadly shooters show their behaviors long before they appear to “just snap”. They may have exhibited years of anti-social behavior or mental illness. All of the planning and gathering of necessary items for the big attack may also be conducted in plain view of friends, family and the public along with verbal and written statements of hate and threats of violence.

Spree shooters, troubled young adults and mentally unbalanced people show visible and reoccurring aspects of their problems to friends and family who may fail to recognize it as criminal in nature or take action. They may live in denial or they just hope it is not a precursor to violence-but do not intercede. Most parents would never believe their offspring could be capable of murdering multiples of human beings in cold blood. But there are parents who have observed bad or psychotic behaviors for years prior to the big event right along with other precursor events in school or at work.

How many Sunday evening late night TV news interviews of have we all seen following a murder which include neighbors who describe the killer , “He was a quiet man.” They may not have seen the many problems suffered by the shooter or were witness to degrading behaviors, but many people may have witnessed individual pieces which should have been cause for alarm.

For the American public, there is an unfortunate trend to shun or avoid angry and troubled people and hope nothing bad happens. We just don’t get involved. If violence does spring forth, there is a common belief only the police can deal with it after the fact.

There is little communal emphasis to be pro-active with problems evidenced by people outside their comfort zones. They are shunted off to being “someone else’s problem” or problems for the police to deal with.

The policeman who takes a report about verbal threats or odd behavior rarely gets information about the person’s life behaviors which are endured by family, friends and teachers.

Instead of prevention, one of the most obvious danger issues we seize upon is of course the use of firearms obtained by spree killers. Media outlets broadcast the brand and type of weapons used, get commentators to speak about them, and politicians call for restrictions and bans-all without embracing the notion that firearms are inanimate objects which are misused by these murderers. It is already illegal to use firearms in the commission of felonies. It is already illegal for citizens under the age of 21 to possess or own pistols and pistol ammunition. Laws which prevent non-criminals from committing statutory bad acts do not stop criminals from engaging in crime. You don’t have to look much beyond the history of anti-gun possession laws in Chicago and Washington DC two of the most restrictive cities in the nation and their high murder rates. Those laws prevented law abiding citizens from possessing firearms, but did not prevent homicidal criminals from doing so.

Criminals are not entitled to have guns. There are also people who are entitled to purchase firearms and ammunition that have mental health problems or personality problems who should not have guns, and in fact it may be illegal for them to purchase or possess firearms. If they self-report, or have notices provided by mental health professionals it is illegal to sell them firearms. In this age of law suits and HIPPA protection, fewer mental health professionals are willing to make treatment or warning notifications to the police.

Each firearm which is legally purchased from a licensed gun dealer in America is regulated by federal and state laws and requires the purchaser under oath to fill out a series of questions to include convictions, domestic violence and mental health treatments. Several of the American spree killers purchased weapons legally, filled out the forms, underwent the mandatory law enforcement background checks, and waiting periods required by state laws.

The type of gun is irrelevant they complied with all of the laws required of every citizen. Rather than relying on purchasers to self report, it may be more important that people with intimate knowledge of subjects who are unsuitable, or who have lied to purchase guns come forward and report the person who has just committed a federal crime.

This is an uncomfortable position to be in, but hopefully we as a society can be more pro-active reporting these types of issues even though they are outside of our comfort zone.

We may never know how many illegal acts will be prevented, and it is not possible to estimate how many injuries or deaths were prevented, but we still need to do the right thing and report illegal behaviors even by friends and family.

In the Sandy Hook massacre, news reports are relating the shooters mother purchased the guns legally. The shooter stole and misused them, not his law abiding mother, and now many politicians want to prevent or further restrict guns for everyone who follows the law? How do they miss the felonious acts of the murderer?

The purchase of guns by people with histories of violence, mental health issues, or who are not old enough to legally own firearms, should draw immediate attention from those around them. Despite media claims or public perceptions that illegal guns are available on any American street corner, it is just not true, and illegal guns have not been the heart of a major shooting spree. American spree shooters have obtained legally purchased weapons themselves or have stolen legally purchased weapons and misused them.

Obviously the theft of legally purchased guns shows proof of felony intent. The shooters also practice and train with guns, and may exhibit unusual behaviors at public shooting ranges or gun stores. Gun dealers and gun ranges have reported people with erratic behaviors and have prevented sales and use, to include the recent Colorado shooter.

Spree shooters always leave clear signs of planned violence

In addition to obtaining firearms, school shooters have also had conversations, emails and written plans viewed by peers, family or friends as “wrong” or “scary” but were discounted or dismissed by people who did not wish to believe clear intent was being shown of future violence. They always leave clues with those around them. Those clues are not always correctly dealt with or interpreted and are merely suffered and rarely reported at home. School teachers and administrators operate with more defined lines of reportable behavior, and are more likely to report violence indicators or behavior. More families need to correct, deal with, or seek outside resources and report bad behavior.

One day after the recent Connecticut shootings, school kids in Laurel, Maryland reported a teen who had made comments about committing school violence.

The information was provided to a school liaison officer, the school administrators, parents and local prosecutor’s office. Investigation found elaborate plans and research being made by the youth. They were placed in a mental health facility for an emergency evaluation.

This is a text book example of people observing the precursor behaviors and acting upon it.

This type of scenario occurs frequently in schools across America and exemplifies the phrase first coined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in their Counter Terrorism campaign “If you see something, say something.”

It may come as a surprise to be told shooting sprees are practiced by young adults daily around the nation and around the world- in popular video games. Even if the academic studies of TV violence are not embraced, even the most skeptical among us must acknowledge the intensive repetition of digital killing can desensitize “normal” players to the suffering of real human beings. It has even gone a step further with the popular use of “Zombies” as targets in the games instead of “live people”. With a potential spree shooter, who already has violent or mental issues, they can submerse themselves in this video based behavior without negative consequences and feed their violent fantasies by the hour. Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman (US Army Retired) first referred to these first person shooting games as “murder simulators” many years ago, and they seem to be very real parts of spree killers observable pre-cursor activities leading up to their shootings.

Other myths exist which obscure objective evaluation of projected violence. Some beliefs are held that family members are good people deep down and they would never harm someone. They may be perceived to be “not dangerous”. This is a very dangerous proposition in and of itself. Law enforcement and mental health professionals can readily attest to the fact that under the right circumstances and with the right motivators, anyone can become violent. The observable pieces by spree killers on the other hand, have shown a long continuum of simmering violence and bad behavior.

Verbal signals of potential violence go far beyond direct threats and may include indirect or passive/aggressive claims, harassing phone calls and emails, reoccurring suicide threats and belligerence. The line between evidencing willingness to harm one’s self versus harming others is very thin.

Physical violence is much easier to appreciate, but may also be surrounded by other physically indicative behaviors like stalking, intimidation, lack of emotional control, deteriorating appearance, isolation and withdrawing behavior exhibited or aggravated by increased use of drugs and/or alcohol.

If you see something, say something

The concept that spree violence is inevitable cited earlier, is another of the damaging myths about stopping this violence. Early identification and intervention is necessary along with commitment to prevention. Safety plans can be formulated and executed as opposed to just hoping bad or violent behavior disappears on its own.

Dedication to doing “the right thing” is a necessary element to interrupt these pathways of violence, and numerous agencies or people can be engaged to help.

There is no need to allow bad behavior to continue unchecked, and once it is addressed, multiple parties need to continue to monitor and interact with problem subjects.

Recognizing threat behaviors is of course the first step toward managing those threats. Use of outside organizations like counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists and teachers to intercede and support persons in crisis brings much more attention to bear, and puts attention and a spotlight on problem behaviors. Friends and family may be engaged to assist and in more serious situations legal options may include the police, local prosecutors and involuntary commitments for mental health evaluations.

Widening the circle of people around a crisis subject reduces risk to all. Intervention can help change the subject’s viewpoints on violence.

This horrific practice of shooting sprees is not inevitable, and the subjects leave oh so visible traces which need to be engaged/reported. Personal involvement can redirect these persons at risk in positive activities instead of allowing them to sink further into their own withdrawn fantasies where they have less and less in common with ordinary human beings.

We must all be vigilant, recognize aberrant behavior, and “If you see something, say something.”


http://www.humanevents.com/2012/12/26/spree-shooters-predictable-preventable-behavior/

It's a good article with many valid points...but....

Hitler used the same tactics before bringing the genocide of 6 million Jews to pass. It started with the children and "new" training in the schools, and just that idea....

"If you see something, say something!"

The Hitler Youth were very adept at "pointing people out"... who later were arrested and just disappeared.

They were rewarded with new clothes, food, money, privilege, and feared by their own parents in many cases.

Some interesting reading you might want to do. Just google Hitler Youth.

And remember.... Obama has a youth army across the nation..... you can google that too!

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2010/03/obamas-private-youth-army-recruiting-8-year-olds.html

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/9379496/obama_youth_army/

Obey Us! Obey Us!.... is that something you want your children saying?

Another flaw is that how did a criminal get a gun and shoot at Firemen?

And why is it mental health and drugs not taken into account. It is always "Blame the tool." I am sick and tired of ignorance of this caliber!

The New York Shooting has some strange twists. the shooter was in prison for using a hammer to kill his grandmother. All he got was 15 years. Someone in the system itself really FUCQED UP BAD! A murderer is freed and he murders others with an assault rifle.

New York already has the toughest gun control lawns in America. Two years ago new york lost in the Supreme Court over its gun controls and some restrictions were relieved.

More gun control is just a knee jerk reaction made by ignorant Jerks!

Far too few people have read (or watched) Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" to really appreciate what's going on now.

News flash people...The book isn't "dated"...In fact it was prophetic. We are not headed into 2013; we are headed straight into 1984.

Headed? Seems the door is closing behind us! Drones, corner cams, RFID, Patriot Act, NDAA.... need I go on?

(I was trying to break it to them gently that it has been "Nineteen Eighty-Four" since November 1963.)

That's how we got here.....remember?

I understand your point here.

I've heard of the "youth brigades".

I've also heard speeches about using our youth as little soldiers for this new movement.

We have to teach our children to stand against wrong political coaxing.

Thanks

That's why this gun debate is so laughable...It isn't about public safety, who should have guns and what kind they should have; it's about tyranny and whether or not the last hope of resistance to tyranny should be surrendered to the oppressive tyrant.

Camp FEMA the movie was free to watch on youtube but was taken down. Might still be available elsewhere. rtr.org sells copies on their site.

I'm told it's on NetFlix so it might be on Hulu too.

Whether you agree with it or not it raises some interesting points.

I've long suggested this gun control issue has been under the guise of taking our personal defenses away.

I also see our very military being weakened which leaves our civilians defenseless.
Fear hovers over our military and that concerns me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxOAK7iOlVk

This is the full version. People may want to download it while it is still up.

The whole purpose of the Second Amendment was to prevent the creation of a standing army under the command of the government because the order might one day come down to turn the guns on the people. For that reason, the people were supposed to have sufficient arms to defend themselves even from such an attack.

While most armies will never turn themseves into the servants of tyranny and oppression, they can be turned into such vehicles by removing from command all men of conscience. Stalin was able to arrange it, and so was Hitler to some extent, so it CAN happen.

On the plus side, when commanders ARE men of decency and conscience, they will disobey the unconscionable orders of the tyrant. A good example was the recent (1991(?)) Revolt in Russia, where a general was ordered to use his tanks & such to disperse the crowd around the Kremlin. He disobeyed that order and instead placed his allegiance squarely behind the Russian people, and so defeated the Communist dictatorship.

What I would be EXTREMELY concerned about if I were an American is some of the agreements that have been signed to allow armed foreign troops in American soil to "quell civil unrest." While your army might be inclined to disobey an order to turn on the American people, you have no assurance that a foreign army would have any qualms about it.

One such agreement was signed between Canada and the US. I know some of the guys in the Canadian military, and I know them to be honourable men of conscience. I can only hope they would disobey such an unconscionable order as to attack their American brothers & sisters, but you should never put your faith in my hopes; I could always be wrong.

Seems there's a multitude of forces
working against our nation simultaniously!

We must have been doing something good at one time.

Our enemies are attacking in subtle ways.

Nor have they read Orwell's Animal Farm!

There is only one force working against your nation, but it is a persistant and unrelenting force that keeps coming back whenever you've vanquished it.

After freeing yourselves from the tyranny of King George and the Bank of England (a Rothschild bank), you foolishly allowed the charter of the Bank of the United States (a Rothschild bank). After kicking that out in the war of 1812, you allowed the charter of The Second Bank of the United States (guess who?)

After a great battle in which Andrew Jackson took such pride that he had "I killed the Bank" carved on his tombstone, you were free from bank tyranny (except for another attempted takeover in the Civil War) until 1913, when you allowed the Fed.

The USA has been under bank tyranny ever since.

The American people have only one real enemy…The Fed.

JustDukkyMkll,

do you feel that the Bankers are behind the move toward Socialism?

I hear so many celebrities praising Socialism.

Some even praise Communism!

I never knew so many have been raised under socialist teaching.

Must have been some underground teachings.

The left/right communist/fascist crap is just a distraction to divide people along politically ideological lines. In truth, it is and has always been financially based totalitarianism. The banks were responsible for the rise of BOTH communism AND fascism (corporatism). It was the banking interests that financed Lenin's Bolshevik Revolution after the Green Revolution overthrew the Czar. It was the banking interests that were responsible for the rise of Hitler in Germany (it is rumoured that he was a grandson of Salomon Rothschild) as a counterbalance against their fear that Stalin would nationalize their central bank in Russia. When Hitler turned around and did what they feared Stalin would do, some alliances had to be rearranged so the might of the banking empire could be turned on Germany.

The banks were IMO responsible for the assassinations of all four of your US presidents (it would have been 5 if providence hadn't been on the side of Andrew Jackson…both of the assassin's pistols misfired)
JFK was the last "free" president you guys had. Like it or not, every president since has been a servant of the Fed.

Look even now. The bank fraud is rampant, yet NOBODY in government is lifting so much as a finger to arrest and prosecute.You have to ask yourself why. Everybody in government knows who's really in charge, but that information is kept from the people as though the visible government was calling the shots. It isn't. It is owned lock, stock and barrel by the real (invisible) government, the Bank.

Read "Tragedy and Hope" by Carroll Quigley.

"The powers of financial capitalism had another far-reaching aim, nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole. This system was to be controlled in a feudalist fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements arrived at in frequent meetings and conferences. The apex of the systems was to be the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, a private bank owned and controlled by the world's central banks which were themselves private corporations. Each central bank...sought to dominate its government by its ability to control Treasury loans, to manipulate foreign exchanges, to influence the level of economic activity in the country, and to influence cooperative politicians by subsequent economic rewards in the business world." -- Carroll Quigley

"For the first time in its history, Western Civilization is in danger of being destroyed internally by a corrupt, criminal ruling cabal which is centered around the Rockefeller interests, which include elements from the Morgan, Brown, Rothschild, Du Pont, Harriman, Kuhn-Loeb, and other groupings as well. This junta took control of the political, financial, and cultural life of America in the first two decades of the twentieth century." -- Carroll Quigley

It is the bankers. Who would Profit more from a one world economy? National Sovereignty messes with their control games. They have to answer to someone. Make them the dominate force that governs the world through money and what have you got? Now follow the money trail. it leads to England. now who are the most notorious thieves of all time? The English ROYAL FAMILY! And who kissed their *** all these years? The East India Trading Corporation, one of the oldest corporations in history! And their track record? Well, who conquered China with Opium?

If people think the English Royal family are just Figureheads, Guess Again. They are England, let alone the UK's largest land owners.

They are pissed we broke away from them, kicked their *** twice, and saved them twice...

They got even though...They re-conquered you a long time ago, and most of you didn't even notice.

The Royal Family ranks pretty high in the"control octopus" most like to call the "NWO", but I wouldn't necessarily say they sit alone at the top of the power pyramid. That power is shared by a few in their exclusive "club."