Mass Shootings
and Mental Illness
BY: 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/SB100014240527023039870045794793230509
94260?mg=reno64wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB1000142405270230398700
4579479323050994260.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_dep
ressive_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-healthcolorado_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?curr
entPage=all>.

Sweetman, Caroline. Men and Masculinity. Oxford: Oxfam, 1997. Print.