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The criminal celebrity who inspires others

Editor, Index-Tribune:

    

  Should we pass more gun control laws? No.

  Law abiding people do not need them and criminals will ignore them.

  We can reduce some of these acts of murder by (1) Stop making the murderers celebrities; (2) Stop putting their pictures on the TV channels and the front page of newspapers, journals, other publications and the web.

  The desire to be recognized by others is an ego-driving force that can motivate people to be good or evil.

  In the 18th century, England captured the Rock of Gibraltar. Surrounded by nations that hated them, the garrison had a very boring life. One solider was so depressed he killed himself. To break up the monotony, the general in charge decided to hold a full-scale ceremony. Troops in their first-class uniforms paraded by. The drummers drummed, the pipers played – it was a great send off. It was so impressive, another soldier committed suicide and others started to follow. The only way the suicides were stopped was by taking the bodies out at midnight and dumping them at sea. The person’s names were never mentioned again.

  By not mentioning murderer’s names and their families, and by imposing a blackout on their activities and pictures, it might stop some of the terrible slaughter. If the news media needs to make someone famous, let them give more coverage to the victims and their families.

  Jesse Davis

  Sonoma