THE NRA IS CHICKEN LITTLE

[Cynical Ninja]

Not all sociopaths are mass murderers

But most mass murderers are sociopaths.

If you lack a conscience you are by definition a sociopath. I would suggest anyone that can walk into a school and shoot numerous innocent children dead with impunity does not have a conscience, ergo they are a sociopath.

[Maggot]

The media does not create the stories but...........depending on the political leanings of the editors report what they want and don't report what they don't.

[Blindgreed1]

reading is HARD huh CN.

No, trying (and failing) to compare drug cartels who acquire guns illegally to sociopaths who buy guns over the counter is hard dumbass.

It's a fact dumbass. Deal with it. Outlaw guns and only criminals have them.

[HairOfTheDog]

Not all sociopaths are mass murderers

But most mass murderers are sociopaths.

If you lack a conscience you are by definition a sociopath. I would suggest anyone that can walk into a school and shoot numerous innocent children dead with impunity does not have a conscience, ergo they are a sociopath.

The guy who shot up the Navy building year before last comes to mind immediately. He'd been doing weird shit and complaining about voices and transmissions in his head for months prior to the massacre. I think it's more likely that he was a paranoid schizophrenic than a sociopath.

And, I've read more reports of shooters killing multiple people by whom they felt wronged than I have about individuals indiscriminately shooting up malls and theaters packed with strangers. The targeted revenge killings often appear to be committed by individuals who suffered psychotic breaks, many of whom were were self-medicating with toxic drugs.

So, I'm convinced that not all mass murderers are sociopaths. But, I wouldn't be surprised if you're right that the majority of some types of mass murderers are sociopaths.

Do you think that mass murdering terrorists and soldiers -- including those who completely believe that they are doing the right thing in accordance with their religions or their political beliefs -- are all sociopaths if they feel no remorse, CN?

[blueberryhill]

Back in the dark ages, when I received my training in mental health, counseling, child and family therapy, etc., there was a clear distinction between sociopath and psychopath....I notice today, that the two terms are used quite freely and indiscriminately to identify killers of all types which was confusing to me. It is still really vague...In my day, killers who heard voices dictating their actions, were delusional, etc. were most likely to be psychopaths. Those without a conscience, lacked empathy, anti-social personality, etc., were most likely sociopaths....It seems the line between the two is less defined and more murky....but IMO, it should make a difference in a court of law, not as an excuse, but to understand dynamics of crime. Everyone is always looking for a motive and with some of these killers, there is no motive. Killing is merely a symptom of their disease....Oh dear, I did go off-track, but I am going to blame the two posters before me, Eat Shit and Hair. Adding my 2 cents worth, I think anyone is capable of killing, be it a crime of passion or mass shooting regardless of the type of mental disorder.they It can be any type, a mixture of types, and so on. We know that not all schizo/paranoid patients kill, but if this is one diagnosis in a litany of symptoms, the sum total can equal a killer....I don't think I am being my usual articulate self today. hehe..hope u get my drift. I think it boils down to, we can't fit symptoms into nice, neat pigeon holes to define specific illnesses and/or killers....Their mental health evaluations are a mixed bag, usually...

[Blindgreed1]

Back in the dark ages, when I received my training in mental health, counseling, child and family therapy, etc., there was a clear distinction between sociopath and psychopath....I notice today, that the two terms are used quite freely and indiscriminately to identify killers of all types which was confusing to me. It is still really vague...In my day, killers who heard voices dictating their actions, were delusional, etc. were most likely to be psychopaths. Those without a conscience, lacked empathy, anti-social personality, etc., were most likely sociopaths....It seems the line between the two is less defined and more murky....but IMO, it should make a difference in a court of law, not as an excuse, but to understand dynamics of crime. Everyone is always looking for a motive and with some of these killers, there is no motive. Killing is merely a symptom of their disease....Oh dear, I did go off-track, but I am going to blame the two posters before me, Eat Shit and Hair. Adding my 2 cents worth, I think anyone is capable of killing, be it a crime of passion or mass shooting regardless of the type of mental disorder.they It can be any type, a mixture of types, and so on. We know that not all schizo/paranoid patients kill, but if this is one diagnosis in a litany of symptoms, the sum total can equal a killer....I don't think I am being my usual articulate self today. hehe..hope u get my drift. I think it boils down to, we can't fit symptoms into nice, neat pigeon holes to define specific illnesses and/or killers....Their mental health evaluations are a mixed bag, usually...

Precisely.