About the shooting in Lancaster, Pa today

[NNguyenMD]

I've been trying to make sense of it all, Colorado, Wisconsin, and this enormous tragedy that hit this once peaceful community earlier today. And this is what I have concluded...

The American people need to give up their obsessive fascination with devastating morally incomprehensible murder/suicide tragedies.

The next week the media with milk this for all the ratings they can get, and try to painfully drawout whatever childhood trauma that caused this psycho to justify committing such a henious act. He'll get so much attention in death, it'll inspire the other warped, morally f-cked up armed men out there to think that they'll make a bigger mark on this world murdering others than living.

This sort of media attention attracts the kind of lonely emotionally screwed up psychopaths to commit copy-cat murders.

America worships the cult of celebrity, and as goddamn depressing as it is, yes even nutso killers can be celebrities too.

What I think you need to do is to get all the news vans, reporters, and helicopter the hell out of Lancaster Pa. Let the law enforcement continue with their investigation without interruption, let the traumatized people of this good community heal, and everyone else turn off their TVs for a change and say a prayer for these little girls.

[catnhatnh]

1. Yep

and there is very else I can say.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. We have been conditioned from very young age

With this violence. Peace be with us all.

[silverlib]

3. I heard a news reporter say today,

I think it was Geraldo, that predicted there would be a lot of copycats. And I thought to myself, much the same as your OP, that the media is much to blame for this. Yes, it is news, and it should be reported. But just the constant repeating of catastrophic news only perpetuates the sick minds who might resort to this insane behavior pattern.

If I, or mine, are ever subjected to such brutal actions, I would hope and pray that this would not be our fifteen minutes of fame and that justice could be served in a manner that would bring peace to those we left behind.

And then, I saw some freeper father of a victim of the Columbine massacre come on the news and talk about the awful violence against his child and those awful crimes of abortion and blame it on the lack of religion in our school and the fact that we don't allow God "in" our schools.

So, not only is the media's role a problem, but politicizing God - does this man think that if there is a God, and I believe there is, that we can kick him out of our schools. Is his God so shallow? Can't my child take God to school in his/her heart and in their actions? Does it take public prayer and the Ten Commandments on the wall to keep our children safe? I hardly think so.

Sorry, didn't mean to rant. You said it well.

[murielm99]

6. I saw that father, too.

It is actually the first time I have watched Katie. I was flipping through the channels, and I had to stop because it was so unbelievable.

That father has gone off the deep end. Abortion and evolution have nothing to do with school shootings. I am sorry for that father, but he should have been treated with sympathy, NOT given a national platform to show how his grief has unhinged him.

[Scribe]

9. Blame God but not the media

I understand the anger and frustration you feel but it in no way is the media's fault. Today's shooting was an important continually breaking story that required continual coverage.

People hear things at varying times and want details. People tune in and out all day wanting updates. It is out of the question to report on the initial event then drop they story. I still want news of a motive and the condition of the surviving girls.

It is more logical to blame god than the media for events like these. But then it is common here to blame the media for almost everything.

[Bucky]

4. The killers from Columbine did get that attention. But these last two...

The killers from this past week have not been getting the "fully Bundy" treatment, haven't been scrutinized the way you fear this nut will be. I hope you're wrong. On the other hand he did commit his atrocity next door to a major media market.

[cigsandcoffee]

5. Outrageous crime stories fascinate people.

Here, there, and everywhere. You might as well try to discourage people from eating chocolate.

[TahitiNut]

7. I haven't heard anyone yelling "terrorist! terrorist!"

Funny 'bout that. :grr:

[CC]

8. The Amish won't tolerate the

media for long. There isn't much for them to cover on tv if the Amish won't talk. The cops were already asking the media to respect the Amish beliefs and privacy. I also think the local community will do what they can to help shield the Amish from a long major invasion of the media.