I just wrote Sending The Wrong Messages to Criminals: “They Know They’re Untouchable.” The premise is that offenders understand that the rules governing them have softened considerably in recent years. We are telling criminal offenders that the justice system is backing down and that their chances for apprehension and accountability are greatly diminished. Urban violence is skyrocketing.

Throughout the article, I suggested that messages have consequences.

What messages are we giving to mass shooters? We seem to promise potential shooters an immense amount of notoriety that has the potential to last for decades. Is the promise of lasting “fame” an inducement to those contemplating a mass shooting?