Concerning the so called manifesto written by the Covenant School killer, we are convulsed with calls and demands for its disclosure. Lawsuits and a multitude of voices raise a cacophonous cry to read it. On the other hand, the parents, school, and justice authorities are resisting.
There have been few published, logical examinations of the reasons for releasing or withholding of the papers. Here is such a defense.
First, the police who read it have declared that it is not a well-reasoned manifesto. It is a compilation of ramblings from what we now know was a disturbed, incoherent mind. There is no reason for publicizing this gibberish.
Incidentally, if the public is so desperate for some unconnected musings, my blog is available. But I digress.
Second, the same authorities who evaluated the value of the disconnected writings also note that there is no declaration of intent or evidence of planning involved. Again, there is no rationale for giving this deranged person his or her “fifteen minutes of fame.”
Third, the major defense for withholding the documents by “unaffected or unconnected” persons is the distinct possibility that it will engender copycat actions. Ever since the unibomber achieved notoriety, our society has endured a literal avalanche of mass murders, many of which were inspired by the desire for recognition by the perpetrator. Even publicizing their names seems suspect. Just call them “the killer.” Names can be released well after the initial clamor and drama has subsided.
And fourth, there is historical precedence for withholding private details of the lives of both the victims and the killer. President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and the Kerner Commission investigated the entire incident. The details of that finding were sealed for 100 years with the explanation that the personal interests of all involved took precedence over the curiosity of the public. We all wanted, and demanded to “know what happened.” The major details were already public, and the rest were personal and not fodder for public display and consumption.
The claims of “prevention” following the publication have been disproved by legitimate authorities. How has the display of earlier “manifestos” prevented any subsequent tragedies? The “public’s right to know” has been met by the details of, 1. what happened, 2. who did it, and 3. how was it resolved. Nothing further is material to those of us with no “skin in the game.”
And speaking of skin, the actual parties who were affected have made their intentions and desires clear. Disclosure will most assuredly subject them to further trauma, and demonstrably contribute to additional incidents. The school shooting in Colorado was inspired by previous killings. Then the one in New England, likewise, was engendered by previous publicity saturated killings, and then Florida, and Texas. There is no need to proceed with a roll call of deranged debacles.
The authorities have the documents and any value gained from them has surely been gleaned. The desire for details can be satisfied after a suitable time of “cooling down.” Any possible value of the disclosure to the public can be gleaned in the coming years. There is no hurry to disclose it now. Go back and read the Columbine documents to satisfy the hunger for details. Those families still ache over their losses, but the immediate sting has subsided. The Covenant victims deserve the same consideration.
And as for the lawyer who declared that the families and friends are not victims, I would challenge him to look into his own soul and consider how he would react to the unjustified murder of his family member, child or grandchild or even the loss of his friends’ family members.
The Bible warns us that, “...in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self....” Read the entire list in 2 Timothy 3, verses 2 through 5. This is a damning indictment, and we are living in the aftermath of events that validate this description from the Apostle Paul.
Let’s not contribute to the chaos or further encourage subsequent events.
