The mystery behind the motives of mass shooters: What if we never learn why?
Published 7:00 AM EDT Aug 16, 2019
The anguish is made all the more acute by the lack of official word on why DeWayne Craddock, a civil engineer who worked for the Virginia Beach public utilities department, launched the barrage that killed Kate Nixon, 10 fellow city employees and a contractor who was filing for a permit. People pray and pay their respects at the makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting that left a total of 22 people dead at the Cielo Vista Mall Walmart in El Paso, Texas,The alleged gunman who opened fire in an El Paso Walmart, Patrick Crusius, posted a hateful manifesto decrying what he called a “Hispanic invasion of Texas’’ and ranting against immigrants, so his motives, while contemptible, appear pretty clear.
Jonathan Metzl, a Vanderbilt sociology professor who studies gun violence, said it’s important from a societal standpoint to ask why these horrific events take place, an exercise that can also be part of the grieving process for victims’ loved ones. “If the goal is to prevent future shootings,’’ he said, “the most important question is not always why did somebody do this, but what kind of policies can we put in place to prevent somebody who’s intent on doing something like this from doing a future act.’’
“It might have been so complex that the offenders themselves might have a hard time articulating why they did what they did,’’ Wyman said.In many instances, such as the Las Vegas, Thousand Oaks, Virginia Beach and Dayton massacres, the perpetrator is not caught alive, depriving investigators of the prime source of information for the motive.
Leinonen has become a gun-control activist and an advocate for the LGBTQ community in the wake of her son’s death. She resents Mateen’s actions being depicted as homophobic, believing the label has been exploited for money-raising purposes. Figures released in December by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed an all-time high 39,773 people died by gunfire in America in 2017 – a rate of 12.2 per 100,000 that’s the highest in two decades. By comparison, Canada had a rate of 2.1 per 100,000; European countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany were below 1.
“The more overwhelming and unfathomable the violence, the harder it is for people to manage,’’ Littleton said, noting that the shooting had a negative effect on how participants felt about themselves and the world.Experts say that for some people affected by gun violence, learning the motive provides a sense of closure, though not for all, especially since many find it hard to relate to what the attacker may feel.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Holly Willoughby's rock chic T-shirt causes mass selloutHolly Willoughby looked stylish on Phillip Schofield's Instagram, wearing a navy blue band T-shirt. The 'Cobra City' top costs £90 and sold out as soon as the This Morning star was seen in it.
Baca lebih lajut »
Despite mass shootings, GOP support for stricter gun control is lower than post-Parkland, survey findsThe issue of gun violence prevention returned to the spotlight in the wake of two mass shootings—one in Dayton, Ohio, and another in El Paso, Texas—earlier this month.
Baca lebih lajut »
Beto O'Rourke relaunches campaign from El Paso hometown in wake of mass shootingFormer Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke gave a speech in El Paso, Texas Thursday, looking to revive his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, in the wake of a mass shooting in the city that resulted in the deaths of 22 people. 'We must take the fight directly to the source of
Baca lebih lajut »
Ping An Insurance says Hong Kong important hub despite mass protestsPing An Insurance (Group) Co of China, the country's largest insurer by mar...
Baca lebih lajut »
Gov. Cuomo Wants to Prosecute Mass Shooters as Domestic TerroristsNew York Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a new state law to specifically penalize domestic terrorism. The proposal would create a new charge for any person who kills in a mass attack on the basis of race, religion, creed or sexual orientation.
Baca lebih lajut »
Trump blames mass shootings on mentally ill, calls for more mental institutionsPresident Donald Trump said on Thursday he supports meaningful background checks for gun buyers, but he told reporters that those responsible for recent mass shootings were mentally ill and the United States should build more mental institutions. The president is under pressure to curb gun violence
Baca lebih lajut »