Mass Shootings and Mental IllnessBY: MAXWELL AIKIN

The Motive and The Means

Most mass shootings have one thing in common, they are driven by mental illness.

I also believe masculinity plays a significant role in the decision making of the shooter.

Shooters tend to suffer from depression, schizophrenia, insanity, and some are labeled as psychopaths.

Some shooters received treatment for their illness prior to the shootings but many do not.

Some famous examples include Sandy Hook, the Colorado theater, Columbine, and most recently Fort Hood.

Over the years…

Mass shootings have been a reoccurring problem for quite some time now.

The shootings happen in a variety of places but most common are school shootings.

The shooter is usually a young male with a troubled mind.

Many argue that it has to do with the shooter being bullied or being out casted, and the shootings are done out of revenge.

Others believe it reflects upon our “loose” gun control.

The Statistics

At least 38 of 61 mass shooters in the past three decades showed signs of mental health issues. This rate is 5 times higher than that estimated for the general population.

Majority of the shooters go untreated. (About 2/3)

The mentally ill make up 400,000 of the nations 2.2 million prison inmates.

The most often illnesses faced are paranoid schizophrenia and severe depression.

Sandy Hook Adam Lanza killed 28 total, including himself.

No one knows Lanza’z motive for the shooting.

Father Peter says that the shooting could not have been predicted.

Adam was never diagnosed or treated for any mental health issues.

Although, he was believed to have suffered from minor cases of depression and schizophrenia.

He was considered an odd child. He was extremely sensitive to touch and could not speak until he was three years old. He also often smelled things that were not there.

Colorado Theater

James Holmes killed 12 and wounded 58 others.

Pleaded not guilty on reason of insanity.

Saw three different mental health psychiatrists prior to the shooting.

His mental illness is unspecified but he was believed to suffer from schizophrenia.

Holmes was a patient at the University of Colorado.

Fort Hood Ivan A. Lopez killed 3 and wounded 16.

He suffered from multiple mental disorders.

He was undergoing treatment for depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

He did not face any combat on his deployment but had been assessed for post-traumatic stress disorder.

He was physically and mentally unstable.

Columbine

Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed 13.

Klebold faced issues with depression and was suicidal.

Harris was a psychopath who wanted to hurt people.

Neither were treated for their mental health issues.

They planned the massacre out in a year’s advance.

They kept very disturbing journals that contained their thoughts and plan to kill.

Evolving Masculinity

I believe masculinity plays a role in the shootings as most shooters are young males.

Masculinity is exists both in men and women but is more evident in men.

Masculinity is essentially a form of power.

Masculinity and violence have a direct connection.

Masculinity tends to be correlated with anger because it appears most in a man in threatening or dangerous times.

Masculinity is always developing but really evolves when males are young adults.

Questions

Should I find more shootings to research?

Should I go into more detail about the different types of mental illnesses?

Should I talk more or less about the masculinity factor in the shooters?

Any suggestions or concerns overall?

Bibliography Barret, Delvin, Julian E. Barnes, and Nathan Koppel. "Fort Hood Officials Focus on

Shooting Suspect's Mental Health." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 3 Apr. 2014. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. <http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303987004579479323050994260?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303987004579479323050994260.html>.

Cullen, Dave. "At Last We Know Why the Columbine Killers Did It." Slate Magazine. N.p., 20 Apr. 2004. Web. 04 Apr. 2014. <http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/assessment/2004/04/the_depressive_and_the_psychopath.1.html>.

Hoffer, Steven. "James Holmes, Accused Colorado Gunman, Saw 3 Mental Health Experts Prior To Deadly Shooting." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 Aug. 2012. Web. 04 Apr. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/james-holmes-mental-health-colorado_n_1820450.html>.

Solomon, Andrew. "The Reckoning." The New Yorker. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. <http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/03/17/140317fa_fact_solomon?currentPage=all>.

Sweetman, Caroline. Men and Masculinity. Oxford: Oxfam, 1997. Print.