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Thursday, April 19, 2007

Showing Video Validates Mass Murder's Delusions

April 19, 2007

Shooter Was Trying to Attempt Immortality, Showing Clips Validates His Delusions, Psychiatrist Says
Concerns Raised That Tapes May Encourage Others...

The videos of Seung-hui Cho, the man who fatally shot 32 people at Virginia Tech on Monday and then killed himself, shouldn't have been released because they don't offer the public any greater understanding of the gruesome crime, said Michael Welner, a forensic psychiatrist and ABC News consultant, on "Good Morning America" today.

"If anybody cares about the victims in Blacksburg and if anybody cares about their children, stop showing this video now. Take it off the Internet. Let it be relegated to YouTube," Welner said. "Showing the video is a social catastrophe."

"I think that's very important for the viewing audience to understand. This is not him.These videos do not help us understand him. They distort him. He was meek. He was quiet. This is a PR tape of him trying to turn himself into a Quentin Tarantino character," Welner said. Welner believes that instead of offering insight, these videos merely offer validation of [the killers]delusional behavior. -- Article continues at: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/VATech/story?id=3056168&page=1

EmergencyNet News Editor's Note:
Unless "significant new information" about the shooting rampage at Virginia surfaces, ERRI/EmergencyNet News editors have reached a decision to discontinue our extended coverage of this historic mass murder. This is being done out of respect for the victims, their families, and friends. Additionally, our assessment of this situation would suggest that Dr. Welner's analysis (above) may have merit and it is never our intent to glorify criminals, in any way. Questions, comments, or suggestions may be sent to webmaster@mail.emergency.com] Now, back to our regular coverage...
Posted by Paul Anderson at 10:21.09
Edited on: Thursday, April 19, 2007 10:57.57
Categories: Emergency Services