Feb 15, 2013

How to smoke out a suicidal spree killer before anyone gets hurt

Hint: Help the person work through his difficulties before he commits to suicidal violence and writes a manifesto reading in part like this:
Self Preservation is no longer important to me. I do not fear death as I died long ago on 1/2/09.
Christopher Dorner was another of America's sad suicidal gun-crazy mass killers. His employment dispute wiped out his military reserve career, which triggered his attack. Apparently Mr. Dorner's mother tried unsuccessfully to help him resolve his desperate sadness. Dorner wrote:
I was told by my mother that sometimes bad things happen to good people. I refuse to accept that.
Did she realize her son was breaking down, careening  towards suicide or worse? Did she have a way to intervene? Most people in America don't know how to begin to approach that topic with someone they love. I have some suggestions about how and when to do that.

There's more. In an earlier post I referred to a new book by Adam Lankford offering clues to dealing with suicide killers.
Mass killers are suicide killers, with homicidal intent layered on. According to Adam Lankford’s new book The Myth of Martyrdom: What really drives suicide bombers, rampage shooters and other self-destructive killers, these “indirect suicidal killers” inflict damage on others to induce their own deaths. Consciously or subconsciously, the attacker is telling a story of bravado or revenge or martyrdom, in order to hide a life filled with failure and rage, and cover over the stigma and disgrace of conventional suicide.

The only effective mass murder prevention strategy is bigger than gun control, bigger than mental health. It’s suicide prevention. At a minimum, the strategy must address three elements.
  •     Suicidal intent
  •     Access to weapons
  •     Access to targets
Yet again the US has suffered injury and death at the hands of an enraged suicidal killer. At what point will Americans find it useful to learn what's needed and become accountable for keeping people safe?

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