In school killings, journalists have duty to report, must fight danger to sensationalize:
This is a great article by American University journalism student Max Ringsgwandl. And I’m not just saying that because he interviewed me for the article.
Max’s article explores the roles and actions of mainstream media when it comes to school shootings. It should be a must-read for all “professional” journalists.
Campbell County High School shooting case goes back to juvenile court:
The attorney for Kenneth Bartley, the teenage gunman from Campbell County High in Tennessee who killed assistant principal Ken Bruce and wounded principal Gary Seale and assistant principal Jim Pierce, wants to have the trial moved back to juvenile court…
In March Bartley agreed to be tried in adult court, but now he wants a hearing on the matter. So the case will at least temporarily go back to juvenile court. Thursday the judge set April tenth as a tentative trial date if the case comes back to adult court.
“If they want to have a hearing in juvenile court, we don’t want to deny them any right, but we’re confident that we’ll have the trial in April here in criminal court,” said District Attorney General Paul Phillips.
Hopefully, it will stay in adult court where it belongs. Murder is not a juvenile crime.
Hainstock’s Lawyer Fights School Records Seizure:
Eric Hainstock’s attorney, Debra O’Rourke, is trying to get school records subpoenaed by the prosecution excluded. She claims that the records are confidential, and the subpoena does not show how they are relevant to the murder of Weston Schools principal John Klang.
District Attorney Pat Barrett is arguing that the records are relevant, stating that Hainstock had issues with numerous students over the past three years and that he was going to “see” them the day he killed Klang.
O’Rourke also said that the school did not fulfill her request for the records, even though she had permission from the family.
Judge Patrick Taggart will rule on the matter in two weeks.
Crown wants Taber school shooter sent to adult jail:
Todd Cameron Smith, the gunman in the Taber school shooting in Alberta, Canada, is back in the news today as the Ontario Crown is trying to get Smith sent to an adult jail…
Paula Teeter, a worker with the Ministry of Child and Youth Services, testified Thursday in a Peterborough court that the man is the oldest “young offender” in the province and is still at a high risk to reoffend.
The man had finished serving his original sentence of three years in November 2003, but a judge had ruled he was still dangerous and should be held indefinitely.
Thanks to Jessie for the link.
Judge recuses himself in school shooting case:
This is a strange development. The judge who was overseeing the case of Kenneth Bartley, the Campbell County, Tennessee ten who shot and Campbell County High Assistant Principal Ken Bruce and wounded Principal Gary Seale and Assistant Principal Jim Pierce, has bowed out of the case. Criminal Court Judge Shayne Sexton did not give a reason why. Retired Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood will take over.
Every once in a while, I get the opportunity to talk to a reporter. Whenever I tell them that there are “fans” or sympathizers of school shooters, they sometimes find it hard to believe. Well, wonder no more, you journalistic types.
Here is an e-mail I received from someone calling themselves Gill. I’m assuming it’s in reference to Kimveer Gill, the Dawson College shooter from Montreal. This is one of the more mild e-mails I’ve received…
Why do you start a website called trenchcoat if you’re not sympathetic to why these kids do school shootings? You call Gill’s pain “adolescent.” I guess it’s okay to do it if you’re George Bush, huh? Nobody calls a military funeral “juvenile,” to belittle it, do they? Fuck arguing with you, I just don’t know why you bother with it at all.
This is a popular tactic with the mutants, comparing school shootings to the war in Iraq. That’s like comparing the proverbial apples and oranges. Hell, that’s more like comparing apples with chickens.
Now, I’m not here to debate the merits or the lack thereof of the war in Iraq, however, typically in a war zone, two separate factions are armed and shooting at each other.
At Dawson College, Gill was nothing more than a coward shooting at unarmed people. And usually in a war, the goal is some greater good. In Gill’s case, the goal was only death.
I not only call his “pain” adolescent and juvenile, I also call it selfish. What about the pain of the family of Anastasia DeSousa? You know, the promising young girl that Kimveer Gill killed. What about their pain?
I think their pain is a lot more important than some gun-wielding psychopath. Kimveer Gill was a 25-year-old living with his mommy. He was a loser in life and an even bigger loser in death.
Amish schoolhouse gunman was drug-free:
Lancaster County Coroner Gary Kirchner has announced that no drugs were found in the system of Charles Carl Roberts IV, the Amish school shooter. This just makes his actions even more puzzling.
Petitioners ask prosecutor for no plea deal:
There were rumors swirling in Tennessee that Campbell County High shooter Kenny Bartley was going to receive a plea bargain from prosecutors. Bartley is accused of bringing a gun to school and shooting and killing Assistant Principal Ken Bruce, and shooting and injuring Principal Gary Seale and Assistant Principal Jim Pierce. Apparently, the rumors of a plea bargain gained so much ground that a petition drive was started asking the state not to enter into any plea bargains with Bartley. According to attorneys on both sides, no plea agreement has been reached.
N.C. law protecting mental health records allowed gun buys:
This is an interesting article that states since Alvaro Castillo voluntarily admitted himself to a mental hospital that he was still allowed to purchase firearms…
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – A teen jailed on charges he fatally shot his father before opening fire at his former high school was able to buy two guns even though he was nearly involuntarily committed to a mental hospital just months earlier because of his suicide threats.
Instead, Alvaro Castillo agreed after the involuntary commitment process had started to admit himself to the hospital. That allowed him to retain his right to buy a gun.
For nearly 40 years, federal law has made it illegal to knowingly sell guns to a person who has been involuntarily committed to a mental institution or otherwise been found by a judge to be mentally ill.
The difference between those who get involuntary and voluntary treatment often is small, but it can have potentially huge consequences, said Mark Botts, a law professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government.
North Carolina law encourages authorities to persuade a person to consent to treatment even when the person is considered dangerous and eligible for involuntary treatment.
But when consent is given, the state no longer has control over the duration of the person’s treatment because willing patients are allowed to voluntarily discharge themselves, Botts said.
In case you forgot, Alvaro Castillo shot and killed his father before opening fire on his former high school.
Statement from the Roberts’ family released:
The family of Charles Roberts, the Amish school gunman that killed 5 girls, has released the following statement to the public…
From the Roberts family:
To our Amish friends, neighbors, and local community:
Our family wants each of you to know that we are overwhelmed by the forgiveness, grace, and mercy that you’ve extended to us. Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. The prayers, flowers, cards, and gifts you’ve given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you.
Please know that our hearts have been broken by all that has happened. We are filled with sorrow for all of our Amish neighbors whom we have loved and continue to love. We know that there are many hard days ahead for all the families who lost loved ones, and so we will continue to put our hope and trust in God of all comfort, as we all seek to rebuild our lives.