Lauren Chacon
asked:
A well liked book going over the details of what really had happened on April 20, in the high school full of kids. What had really pushed the shooters to the edge? Were the acts they had committed justified by their mental illness?
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Janessa
Mental illness does not justify an act a person commits, it can offer insight to the why's. It can also help people be more aware of the true traits that psychopathy entails. Books like this can make an "average" person more aware and informed, which are the first steps to prevention. While April 20th, 1999 will forever be a tragic day in our history, it did allow us to gain knowledge to help prevent further tragedies.
Naomi
So, the idea of one single thing causing the shooting is not completely realistic. However, clear signs of two types of psychopathy and various mental illness definitely played a role. Whether or not any crime can be "justified" by the mental status of the person is debatable.
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