On Human Destructiveness

[bigtree]

4. you put the responsibility where it belongs, with the shooter

. . . however you chose to characterize him.

I've read the commentary that says a black man would have just been labeled a thug and this fellow is already being given the benefit of a conveniently diverting discussion about society's responsibility for his state of mind. I don't know why, but there does seem to be a divergent attitude toward the shooter, in that regard, according to their race. I'm more comfortable, though, in the understanding that these shooters, black and white, or whatever ethnicity, are not mentally well. That understanding can help create an atmosphere of awareness and, hopefully, foster earlier and aggressive interventions.

There's scant coverage of the state of mind of his victims. More focus on that aspect of the violence could, possibly, go a long way in countering all of the romanticism and justifications these shooters sometimes find in the actions of the killers preceding them. Blunt talk is certainly welcome.