Doctors prepare for microscopic study of Las Vegas shooter's brain

[hlthe2b]

As we face another mass casualty event--still with no motive established for the last, I thought I'd see if anyone was reporting "progress" on the Las Vegas investigation. This is probably a longshot, but at least the examination is being done

Doctors prepare for microscopic study of Las Vegas shooter's brain
--snip--
Stephen Paddock's brain is being sent to Stanford University for a months-long examination after a visual inspection during an autopsy found no abnormalities, Las Vegas authorities said.

Doctors will perform multiple forensic analyses, including an exam of the 64-year-old's brain tissue to find any possible neurological problems.

The brain will arrive in California soon, and Stanford has been instructed to spare no expense for the work, The New York Times reported. It will be further dissected to determine if Paddock suffered from health problems such as strokes, blood vessel diseases, tumors, some types of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, degenerative disorders, physical trauma and infections.
--snip--
If a disease is found, experts say it would be false science to conclude it caused or perhaps even contributed to the massacre, even if that explanation would ease the minds of investigators and the world at large.

more:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-las-vegas-shooter-brain-autopsy-20171029-story.html

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. How about just plain old maniac?

[SoCalMusicLover]

7. Plain Old Maniac With NRA Approved Access To MANY Guns nt

[lagomorph777]

2. So it takes a microscope to see that crazy people exist...

...and rather than keep machine guns out of their hands, we'll slice up thier brains AFTER they commit mass murder?

So effed up.

[hlthe2b]

4. No one is more determined than I that we need to deal with our gun policy insanity

Still, I do think it important to investigate as fully as possible which includes excluding any physical issues that might have motivated this heinous act.

Guns ought certainly to be the focus, but given they aren't disappearing overnight, we owe it to those who perished to do everything possible to see if there may be "predictors" that might prevent the next horrific act.

[Dave Starsky]

3. I'm thinking there might be some societal roots.

But I will let the experts weigh in.

[haele]

5. Y'know, genetics or medical problems aside...Narcissism tends to be a learned trait.

From what people who knew him said, there wasn't anything suddenly different about him that might have lead to him deciding he could just hunt humans to make some sort of statement - this was a long time in the making.

He might have had some mental issues, probably not something that would show up in an autopsy; since his dad apparently had schizophrenia, he might have been along the spectrum.

But I'm not inclined to think he had some physiological trigger; I'm thinking he was just crazy-mean full of himself, thinking the world owed him something and setting out to punish it when he couldn't get whatever it was he wanted. Medication may have kept him from breaking windows and shooting at crowds with modifications to make his weapons automatic, but he would have had to wanted to get help in the first place.

Haele

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. Does this mean the phrenologists are done with his skull?

Whatever they discover, any conclusion about motive will still be mostly guesswork.

Well, good luck, anyway.

[hlthe2b]

10. You are comparing one of the world's preeminant neuropathologists to a phrenologist? Really?

Even if an abnormality is found that will NOT be considered CAUSAL and I have no doubt Stanford would never suggest otherwise.

Yet, would you likewise suggest all those neuropathologists studying CTE among NFL and other athletes are engaged in quackery as well?

[ProudLib72]

11. I was going to be upset by your snark, but...

I realized that any "scientific" exploration is just evading the simple fact that we MUST revise gun control. That does not take a microscope to figure out.

[doodsaq]

8. I would suggest sending in deceased Trump supporter brains as well...

...for further study.

[BigmanPigman]

9. A lot of comparisons are being made

between The Texas Tower Shooter 1966 and this case. There was a very good article about how the two had similarities and differences. It raises a lot of good points. Worth the read.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/02/opinions/texas-nevada-parallels-opinion-lavergne/index.html

[unblock]

12. I doubt his brain was *that* small

Too soon?

[Corvo Bianco]

13. Who gives a SHIT

We're going to extrapolate half-cocked theories from this guy's dead brain tissue rather than you know,
taking the GUNS AWAY?

[hlthe2b]

14. You didn't have to post in this thread, you know. I posted it for those who might be interested

I find your response to me beyond rude.

[Corvo Bianco]

15. I'm sorry. I was not intending to direct my outrage at you. I'm outraged with the daily death toll.

I don't understand why we can't work out gun control. Attempts to look into motive and neural pathways are certainly enlightening, but they seem to me to be a slap in the face to Americans who will be shot today and tomorrow and the next day and the next.... because we can't pass common sense gun control.

I'm glad you posted this because I like to know what's going on. I also have an opinion on the matter. It's nothing personal and I'm sorry if it came off that way.

[hlthe2b]

16. Thanks for replying. I could not agree more on the need to address our insane gun society. n/t

[Laffy Kat]

17. You know, from what his gf reported, I started to think...

There might be a more organic cause at contributing to his behavior. Glad they're looking into it. The more we know the better. Of course, this could have been avoided all together with tougher gun laws.