Note: May 11, 2023
The following posting was written in 2012 in response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, that’s 11 years ago. Last year in Uvalde Texas another massacre involving young children proved that little has changed about news coverage of these events. It is true, however, unlike 2012, discussion of gun control legislation has emerged to some extent. Nevertheless, little to nothing has occurred to bring about rational changes in state laws in particular to address the problem, particularly in red states. In fact, gun control legislation has, in the nearly dozen years since Sandy Hook, moved in exactly the opposite direction, encouraging and permitting more people to easily acquire firearms, quite often the wrong people.
Connecticut Elementary School Mass Murder – The Massacre Script
DEC. 14, 2012.
AT NEWS STATIONS EVERYWHERE…..THE MASSACRE SCRIPT IS DUSTED OFF…..
Reports of shootings of more than three people come in, some sketchy, some false. The button called ‘Murder’ is pressed firmly at TV and radio station production facilities worldwide. Banners like “This just in,” “Breaking news,” and “Special report” then appear on screens.
More details emerge, some valid, some outrageously incorrect. Tweets overload the internet. Tweet-driven consensus reached by most telecommunicators. Buttons labeled ‘Mass Murder,’ ‘Shootings,’ and ‘School’ quickly pressed as facts and impressions arrive. ‘Elementary school’ button engaged. News readers’ scripts everywhere engage memory of established patterns, and usual guests head to the station in fast cars.
“Live reports on the ground rush in. Initial actual facts emerge. Number of casualties assessed. How many ‘shooters’?
A quick revision to script, a ‘Kindergarten’ script, rushed into studios everywhere. Kindergarten. This is new.
‘How could this happen?’ ‘At an elementary school?!’ ‘Who could do such a thing?’ More official-sounding reports arrive from school officials, law enforcement, first responders, local hospitals, and parents. ‘Kindergarten classroom!?’ ‘Maybe 30 dead, mostly children?? Kindergartners?’ ‘Babies.’ ‘Initial numbers emerge, information about shooter still sketchy. Another shooter? No. One shooter. He’s dead. Suicide affirmed. What’s his name?’
Another mandatory part of the Massacre Script emerges and crashes into dead kindergarteners:
‘Today’s not the day to talk of gun laws. 20 children dead, six adults, the ‘shooter’ himself, all shot with deadly purpose – there is only one injured, all the rest dead. School principal, school psychologist, teacher. 20 babies. 20 babies, 20 babies. Prayers going up. Thoughts also.’
‘His name was Adam Lanza. He had pistols. Today is not the day to speak of gun control. Mourn today. Pray a lot. Tomorrow gun control.’
‘Shooter’ was young man. Mother was a kindergarten teacher. Shot dead. No commercials now. We’re concentrating on reporting to you. Maybe another shooter, or accomplice? Adam Lanza’s brother? How could anyone do such a thing? Where did he get his guns? Were they legal? He must have been either evil to the core or clinically insane. Why did he not get noticed? Has the mental health system again failed us?’
‘Today is not the day to speak of gun control. Tomorrow. Perhaps in a few days. Not now. Mental health system, what happened? Or is he simply evil beyond description? Kindergartners?’
Interviews of parents and very young witnesses rush in. That’s the script, people want to know, they want to empathize, they like to feel engaged, a part of it all. They are newsworthy.
‘Please tweet us your reactions. We’ll be scrolling them at the bottom of your screen.’
Commercial break for Fidelity Investments, Dial soap, orange juice, class action suits ‘you may be eligible for,’ and tax problem firms. Commercials are newsworthy.
‘New details emerge. The mother of shooter was not at school after all. Found dead at her home. Adam Lanza, her son, shot her dead and then drove car to Sandy Hook Elementary.’
‘Confirmed: 20 children, six adults dead. Includes ‘shooter’s’ mother, found at home as we just reported. Most of the dead children were in one classroom. Four and five year olds? How could anyone do such a thing? Where did he get his guns? Were they legally obtained? He must have been either evil to the core or clinically insane. Why did he not get noticed? Has the mental health system again failed us? How could he get those guns? Where were the psychologists? We need many many more, everywhere.’
‘Surely today is not the day to speak of gun control. Tomorrow. Perhaps in a few days. At least by next week. Must be discussed, an adult discussion. A national conversation.’
“Youngsters describe their reactions, experiences:
‘Yes,’ says the five-year-old girl, “We runned fast. I was scared and heard boom, boom, boom.’
More details, more details, more details. Interviews, parents, babies, 4th graders. People want to know, they want to empathize, they like to feel engaged, a part of it all.
Again, ‘Please tweet us your reactions.’ Script helps.
‘Guns were registered to shooter’s mother! Legally purchased. President Obama, Governor, all will speak soon. Not expected to mention gun laws. It’s too soon. Will offer prayers, we believe. Local law enforcement press conference in three minutes. Stay tuned.’
Commercials roll. And roll. Cannot afford free coverage.
Newscaster: ‘We now go to the Newtown police force press conference.’
‘We cannot answer many of your questions.’
Reporter shouts, ‘Why? What about this? All those guns?
‘No. We will not answer. That’s for some other day. That’s for lawmakers. Not us.’
‘But surely you can tell us . . .”
‘No. I cannot. Investigation ongoing.’
Shouted attempt at question: ‘What is to investigate? There are 300 million guns in the….’
‘No. No. Perhaps in a week or so someone else will address this political question We’ll not politicize on this horrifying day.’
“ ‘Can you tell us what you cannot discuss?’
‘No. We’ll be having another press conference in two hours and maybe I can answer that question then That’s it for now.”
Roll commercial break featuring Cialis. And the Charmin bears.
More details. Same details. Same interviews. New news: President Obama indirectly mentioned his frustration with gun laws, seemed to imply reform was on the table. Newscaster asks, ‘Did he go too far this soon after the massacre of 20 children? He cried too.’
Very serious panel discussion: When will it be appropriate to talk about gun control. But all agree ‘not today.’ Mourn today.
‘We can talk about mental health though. Let’s do. Mental health system can be spoken of. It stinks. Needs major reforms. But state budgets tight, and solutions difficult. And we now know shooter’s gun was legally purchased! See. Legal.’
‘But mental health? Why did the system fail this young man? Failed society. Failed the poor babies. Is evil a mental condition? Hanging’s too good for him were he alive.’
New panel. On gun control!? Tentative. Way too soon.
Newscaster: ‘Although it’s too soon to discuss this very much we have a large Twitter audience asking for a discussion. Few want to. Most want to mourn.’
Panelist 1, Famous Atlantic magazine reporter: ‘Let me point out that there are innumerable schools where this kind of kindergarten event does not happen. And guns are everywhere. 300 million in the U.S. This particular massacre is an isolated incident. By and large our country is very safe. Most of us have a very good chance statistically of never being killed in a massacre or even injured as result of gun violence. You have more of a chance of being in a car accident.’
Panelist 2, Village Voice guy: ‘No. What Atlantic guy just said is totally wrong, dangerous even.’
Atlantic magazine guy: ‘We must not criticize peaceable gun owners! Mourn!’
Village Voice guy: ‘I’m doing both!. Can’t we mourn and discuss gun control?’
Atlantic magazine guy: ‘No and you’re proving yourself to be anti-mourning, anti-prayer.’
News anchor: ‘Thanks to our panel. Excellent and detailed airing of issues. Now for a word from Coca Cola.’
First responders grieving, weeping openly. Crisis counselors available. Third grader describes bullets’ sounds. ‘I closed my eyes. Keep tweeting us.’
Newscaster: ‘Massacre script hourly rewind coming up next. But first, ‘Do you suffer from mesothelioma? Watch this informative segment.’
______________________________
The following day, Saturday, December 15, we learn that the children were not kindergartners, but first graders, all aged six or seven; Ryan Lanza shot each victim multiple times, with a rifle, not a handgun; He had no criminal record, but was believed to have had a “personality disorder. He was described as awkward, remote, odd, very different, nervous, smart, shy, seemingly unable to feel physical pain.
______________________________
The following day, Saturday, December 15, we learn that the children were not kindergartners, but first graders, all aged six or seven; Ryan Lanza shot each victim multiple times, with a rifle, not a handgun; He had no criminal record, but was believed to have had a “personality disorder. He was described as awkward, remote, odd, very different, nervous, smart, shy, seemingly unable to feel physical pain.
