The Public Has a Right To See the Nashville Shooter's Writings

by J.D. TUCCILLE, Reason, 6.12.2023 - Should authorities "protect" the public from the thoughts of violent criminals? Do victims' families have a claim to suppress public records regarding assailants' deeds? These questions arise as some people seek to deter mass attacks by denying attention to perpetrators—especially in incidents that may involve controversies over ideology, culture, and policy. The debate over releasing the Covenant School shooter's manifesto is the most recent such example, and like all of them it should be resolved by acknowledging the public's right to know. .... 

"In the collective writings by Hale found in her vehicle in the school parking lot, and others later found in the bedroom of her home, she documented, in journals, her planning over a period of months to commit mass murder at The Covenant School," Metropolitan Nashville police announced April 3. "The writings remain under careful review by the MNPD and the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The motive for Hale's actions has not been established and remains under investigation by the Homicide Unit in consultation with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. It is known that Hale considered the actions of other mass murderers." ... 

... Was Hale motivated by anti-Christian bias? By childhood experiences as an alumnus of the school? By earlier school shooters? Did the debate over trans identity play a role? What about self-defense rights and access to firearms? Did Hale take common security measures into account and plan around them? There's plenty of reason for researchers, reporters, activists, and people in general to want to see what Hale left behind. ...

Anti-gun activists have already tried to build a case for restrictive laws on the crime. Others insist the murderer was motivated by anger over the treatment of trans people. People deserve to know what they contain. Suppressing the documents just makes everybody suspect the worst about their contents.

Whatever is in the writings, the public has the right to see them. And government officials have neither the right nor the credibility to stand in the way. (read it all)

Rod's Comment: The public has a right to know. Also, why is this not routinely being referred to as a "hate crime?" If a straight person had committed a mass shooting at a gay night club, it would be called such by everyone. Also, was she taking hormone drugs and would such drugs cause suicidal thoughts or irrational thoughts of violence? Did she kill because the school was a Christian school? Was she motivated by transexual ideology? 

Release the manifesto!

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