The writings of the person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public, a judge ruled Thursday.
Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea Myles found that The Covenant School children and parents hold the copyright to any writings or other works created by shooter Audrey Hale, a former student who was killed by police. As part of the effort to keep the records closed, Hale’s parents transferred ownership of Hale’s property to the victims’ families, who then argued in court that they should be allowed to determine who has access to them.
Myles agreed, ruling that “the original writings, journals, art, photos and videos created by Hale” are subject to an exception to the Tennessee Public Records Act created by the federal Copyright Act.
The shooter left behind at least 20 journals, a suicide note and a memoir, according to court filings. When the records requests were denied, several parties sued, and the situation quickly ballooned into a messy mix of conspiracy theories, leaked documents, probate battles and accusations of ethical misconduct. Myles’ order will almost surely be appealed.
It’s not about the public’s ‘rights’ tho. It’s about the victims’ families and their rights … which in this case the judge decided on the side of the families.
I for one am glad of that because it gives the families at least some sense of control over a situation they originally had zero control over.
Gun regulation is control which is declined.
A judge Giving away first amendment rights seems wrong. Making an “exception” to a law made specifically for this.
Seems to me it would only be blocked if it was embarrassing. Everyone in the shooters life could’ve failed them because they’re ’good Christian’s’. The kid could’ve also been insane but now we won’t know will we.
Ok. So how would you personally benefit from the killer’s writings being publically released?
Maybe I wouldn’t send my trans kid to that school if it’s a place known for fostering hate.
The school’s name was already published. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Nashville_school_shooting
That doesn’t tell the public anything about why a shooting occurred.
You stated that knowing the school’s name would help you. The school’s name is public. Therefore your ‘want’ has been fulfilled.
I wanted to know why the shooting occurred at that particular school. Nothing has been done. Especially if there was anti-trans sentiment being used against the shooter daily. It being a Christian private school would fit the narrative. Totally speculative but a person who murders their bullies instead of just killing themselves is a more believable scenario
Then pressure the police to complete their investigation and release the findings.
Maybe my would-be killer gets caught because their psychologist studied the killer’s writings and noticed a troubling pattern.
I don’t want even more manifestos glorified and memed on 4chan. I’m cognizant there’s generally a reason horrible things see the light of the public eye.
Body cam footage of someone’s worst moments of their life… release it, violate one person’s privacy, keep one officer/department accountable, public has to weigh that tradeoff.
Even releasing lottery winners’ names ruins lives, but otherwise some would assume the lottery’s fraudulent (money going to politicians’ friends)… instead of just a tax on the poor 🌈
None of that tells me how you would personally benefit from this killer’s writings being published.
Not dying:
Guy wants to kill me. Guy complains about me to their therapist without mentioning killing me. Therapist thinks “wait, this sounds like something I’ve read…”
And what they read was some lunatic’s writings that were released. Therapist is then able to report their concerns via appropriate channels and medicates my would-be killer, and I live another day.
That is crap. What-ifs don’t benefit you directly like that.
There is absolutely zero reason that the judge erred in his ruling.
You just want to feed your snoopy gene. Nothing else.
What do you mean?
When it comes to violence, I pretty much stop at the headlines. Watched brutal videos many years ago & I’m set for a lifetime on the bulk of true crime and also fictional violence.
I was actually wondering if materials could be released in a limited fashion: send an application, go to a reading room… try to avoid leaks but still let people get science done or whatnot.