Interesting article, re: Newtown

[OldBrownDog]

Just saw this on Yahoo

http://news.yahoo.com/connecticut-shooter-wanted-top-norway-death-toll-cbs-020949285.html

The man who shot dead 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school wanted to kill more people than the 77 slain by a Norwegian man in a 2011 rampage, CBS News reported on Monday, citing unnamed law enforcement sources.

But publicizing these tragedies couldn't possibly encourage copycats, right?

Citing two officials briefed on the Newtown investigation, CBS said Lanza targeted the elementary school because he saw it as the "easiest target" with the "largest cluster of people."

Wait, he didn't respect the gun-free zone? And probably picked it because it was gun free? But thats criminal! Oh, wait....

 

[jamesbeat]

That's why these shootings happen in schools rather than, say, police stations.
There must be plenty of psychos with a grudge against the police, but you mever hear of someone trying to go on a rampage in a police station.
Why?
They know that almost everybody in the building will be armed.
Gun free zones are soft targets, which makes them positively inviting to lunatics.

 

[Sam1911]

Yes, interesting:

A Connecticut state police spokesman dismissed the report as inaccurate speculation.

The report did not say how the investigators learned of Lanza's desire to compete with Breivik.

Lanza was also motivated by violent videogames ... CBS said.

Source?

Evidence shows that in his mind, Lanza was likely acting out the fantasies of a videogame during his shooting spree with each death amounting to some kind of "score," CBS said.

Evidence available for analysis where?

Authorities have not publicly spoken of his motive.

"This is not official Connecticut State Police information and is someone's speculation regarding the case," Connecticut State Police Lieutenant Paul Vance told Reuters in an email statement.

When asked if the CBS report was in any way accurate, Vance responded, "No."

Speculation is better than proof or evidence or documented fact or a public statement from ... like anyone really, because it is just so yummy! Man, I love a big spoonful of speculation!

 

[trueg50]

I found it funny they picked up on him owning video games and spending house in a dark basement as though it is a bad thing! Of course as a gamer he spent house in a dark basement, light causes nasty glare, and if you are courious you are going to be in the basement so you don't disturb others!

I like how they made every detail oh to he evil, like how he went to gun ranges with the actual weapons used... Like the alternative would be to go to the rifle range with a cap gun?

Just more of the media trying to drum up fear where possible by making every firearm owner person who has ever played a video game is plotting to go on a shooting spree

 

[icanthitabarn]

I read that story already. There was also a story on two gentlemen caught, in town, from NYC, who had a couple revolvers and a plan to collect some money. Another car load of gentlemen were stopped after blasting away with a stolen handgun, while out on a lark. The actors who write laws should just make all these activities legal and go after responsible people. Or do a study.

 

[icanthitabarn]

The story I read cited CBS and a CT. newspaper who learned of clippings of the Norwegian psychos story from "unnamed" police sources. The clippings, allegedly were found, in the monsters bedroomS.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The Reuters story traces to:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/19/justice/connecticut-newtown-shooting
Ed Payne, "Report: Sandy Hook shooter tried to emulate Norway massacre", CNN, 19 feb 2013.

which traces to:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_1...ter-motivated-by-norway-massacre-sources-say/
February 18, 2013 6:32 PM PrintText
Bob Orr, Pat Milton, "Newtown shooter motivated by Norway massacre, sources say", CBS, 18 Feb 2013.

which states:

Two officials who have been briefed on the Newtown, Conn., investigation say Lanza wanted to top Breivik's death toll and targeted nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School because it was the "easiest target" with the "largest cluster of people."
. . . . .
EDITOR'S NOTE: In response to this piece, Lt. J. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police told CBS News that the investigation into the motive for the Newtown shooting has not been completed and therefore any statements about the shooter's intent are mere speculation.

Guess we could wait for the investigation to be completed.

I will point out that both US and Australian researchers have linked glamorizing spree killers to copycat killings emulating the news reports (not necessarily emulating the actual original crimes, but emulating the exaggerations in the reports.) Same has been demonstrated in sensationalized reporting of suicides followed by copycats. Some folks on the edge just need a nudge.

 

[ny32182]

This idiot's name and face should be forgotten.

Instead we get investigative hard hitting journalism uncovering never before seen pictures of the shooter, and document his life in the months and years leading up to the shooting. Everyone is "interested in his motives", and we give him his own PBS Frontline special.

Treating him like a celebrity does no good for anyone or anything but the networks' bottom line, and I doubt anyone with a brain in their head would deny that it serves to motivate other nutjobs world wide to try for the new high score.

 

[icanthitabarn]

Knock it off with that common sense

 

[ol' scratch]

This is speculation and poor journalism. I don't take anything seriously if it doesn't include a creditable source.

 

[JRH6856]

Besides, if he were acting out Call of Duty (as has been claimed) he would have shot up an airport.

(Breivik, the Norway shooter, was supposedly trying to emulate the airport massacre in COD: Modern Warfare 2)