News that the shooter, murderer in the Sandy Hook tragedy, might have been living with Asberger’s Syndrome has unfortunately paved the way for some to point to the disorder as an explanation as to why he took a gun and murdered innocent people.
Using Asberger’s or any form of autism as a scapegoat is ridiculous. While we need to learn more about autism, we do know that most people living with it do not turn into mass murderers or even violent people who would harm others if only given the opportunity.
While the need to find answers in the wake of any tragedy is great and shared by most concerned people, grabbing for quick facts or rumors and trying to form them into a motive is a very dangerous, and ignorant, thing.
Most murderers are not living with autism or any other developmental disorder or for that matter, mental or emotional disorders. Do those of us who are not living with developmental, mental, or emotional disorders look at ourselves in the mirror when a murder takes place and shudder in horror at the face staring back? Do we run to get professional help because someone “like us”, living with or without what we are living with or without, has committed a heinous crime. Do we run away when we see others who we believe to be living with no developmental disorders or emotional or mental problems on the streets or in our schools or workplaces because we have stereotyped them as potentially violent and dangerous beings?
Socialjusticeink's Blog 
No Quick Answers in Sandy Hook
December 16, 2012News that the shooter, murderer in the Sandy Hook tragedy, might have been living with Asberger’s Syndrome has unfortunately paved the way for some to point to the disorder as an explanation as to why he took a gun and murdered innocent people.
Using Asberger’s or any form of autism as a scapegoat is ridiculous. While we need to learn more about autism, we do know that most people living with it do not turn into mass murderers or even violent people who would harm others if only given the opportunity.
While the need to find answers in the wake of any tragedy is great and shared by most concerned people, grabbing for quick facts or rumors and trying to form them into a motive is a very dangerous, and ignorant, thing.
Most murderers are not living with autism or any other developmental disorder or for that matter, mental or emotional disorders. Do those of us who are not living with developmental, mental, or emotional disorders look at ourselves in the mirror when a murder takes place and shudder in horror at the face staring back? Do we run to get professional help because someone “like us”, living with or without what we are living with or without, has committed a heinous crime. Do we run away when we see others who we believe to be living with no developmental disorders or emotional or mental problems on the streets or in our schools or workplaces because we have stereotyped them as potentially violent and dangerous beings?
Tags:Asberger's Syndrome, autism, blame, Sandy Hook, school violence, stereotype, violence
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