News-Record.com

I personally think (and I have thought this for several years now) that in mass murders such as this one, the name and photo of the killer should not be publicized. I understand freedom of the press but I strongly believe that listing the names, posting photos and discussing their lives just encourages the next shooter who wants to see his name in lights. For people like this, negative publicity is better than no publicity. I think these guys want to go out in what they consider a blaze of glory...and I think we give it to them when we plaster their names and photos all over TV, newspapers, magazines and homepages of servers. This particular guy killed himself but I think there are other shooters paying very close attention.

This is a truly tragic. My thoughts and prayers to all the families.
As a side note, as an ex New York resident, Binghamton is not upstate. It borders on Pennsylvania.

My point above about the media giving mass murderers the publicity they crave is precisely illustrated in the N&R's April 5, Sunday edition. On page A2, an AP article questions why we have so many mass killings in the US. Right next to it is another AP article that shows the killer's picture and elucidates the possible reasons for his killing spree. Unbelievable. The N&R and other media outlets might as well add an additional caption under the photo:

Attention all crazy people with guns! Feeling suicidal and don't want to go it alone? Want your 15 minutes of fame? Insert your picture here!

The media chooses not to publish details about rape victims and minors. They should choose to refrain from publishing names and photos of mass murderers.

Doug, why is this issue not discussed at any level in the media??

I agree with most of what Thoughts For says above about the publicity. But then you may be blocking people out in the oublic who may have info on the killer etc and whether he had associates that may also be crazy etc.

A double-edged sword.

Come on, folks. Can you blame WWII on Hitler's appetite for attention? Just ignore him and he'll stop?

The news media cover news. In my opinion, the public wants to know about these events and has a right to know.

There seem to be all sorts of reasons why these people blow up in a surge of violence. The maniac in Carthage apparently came looking to kill his wife. Where is the evidence these people are committing mass murder and then suicide just to get their names in the paper?

No, Doug, I don't have any hard statistical evidence to prove that someone goes on a killing spree to gain notoriety. It just looks that way to me after seeing so many mass murderers getting their 15 minutes of fame--actually--weeks of fame. Why else would someone kill 5, 10 or 20 people in a mall, store or park--except for the notoriety? In my opinion, the media is handing these mass murderers exactly what they wanted on a silver platter.

I grimace every time I see a photograph of a mass murderer in a newspaper or on TV. It just looks like an invitation to the next crazy person who wants notoriety. "Hey, if you shoot 10 people, we'll cover it...plus, we'll examine all the reasons why you were driven by society to do it! Tonight at 6!"

I completely understand that the media wants to cover the mass murders. I just don't think the name and photograph of the mass murderer should be released.

Of course, I'm coming at this from a newsman's perspective. But I think before you could reasonably suggest the media don't cover these events for the reasons you state, you'd have to show, for example, that the guy in Binghamton was keeping a scapbook of other mass shootings or was heard by friends or family members making statements to the effect that he envied the televised coverages other killers have received. Otherwise, it's just a theory with nothing supporting it. On the other hand, if there's evidence the guy was ticked off about losing his job, or had some other known grievance, that's a more plausible theory of motivation.

Just my opinion. Any others?

Although I don't agree with you, I understand your point of view. And yes, I agree that there are other motivations for some mass murders--such as a guy who is ticked off about losing his job.

Still...gut feeling?...I think a person who goes to a park or mall and randomly kills 10 people is looking for notoriety. I don't think posting that mass murderer's photograph or name is in anyone's best interest. I really do think posting that information actually encourages the next crazy person who wants to see his name in the newspaper, on CNN hour after hour, on computer homepages, ad nauseum. It's just a gut feeling on my part though. Let's just agree to disagree on that one.

Yes, I would be curious to know what other people think about this. Also, I have not seen any new organizations discuss this issue seriously at any level. I appreciate your willingness to discuss it. I think it's an important issue for us in these times of frequently-occurring mass murders.

Thanks. Looks like we will disagree on this.

If you're right, there an irony. When you have a spate of these events, as we're going through now, each shooter gets less attention. The focus quickly shifts to the next one.

I have a suggestion to anyone who might be reading with thoughts of seeking glory in this way:

Distinguish yourself by doing something different.

For example, shoot yourself first. Leave a note saying you planned to kill a whole lot more people but decided to start with the final act.