Mateen Profile More Like "A Typical Mass Shooter" Rather Than "Individual Radicalized By ISIS"

[HepKitty416]

33. I agree. He was an attention seeker.

The news I've seen and read notes that he (I refuse to use his name to further glorify his actions) claimed loyalty to Isis when he called 911 to report his own crime. Add to that his internet searches during the shooting for "Pulse", "Orlando", and "shooting", and it seems obvious he was out for his 15 minutes, as are many mass-killers. Of course he's got mental problems- right-minded people don't up and kill other people. But as a country, we're encouraging the problem by continually using descriptions that elevate his actions to near-hero status: special graphics on the news, chilling headlines, high body counts, phrases like "no one could predict this;" or "lone wolf", take power away from citizens by lulling us into the notion that there were no warning signs of his actions (there were plenty, as we're learning now); worse, that there are no warning signs to watch for from these solitary predators in general; and hands power to those who commit these crimes by feeding the notion that they can go out in a blaze of glory by taking out a large number of dull sheep (or sinners, or bullies, or infidels, etc.) all at once.

Regardless of his intent, he should only be referred to by his case number on the news. We're making him into a hero.