SPU doesn’t get to decide what is too violent

There’s an online petition circulating by students at Seattle Pacific University calling on local television networks to end public disclosure requests for video footage of the attempted mass shooting on SPU’s campus in June.

In this petition, which The Stranger says was started by student Andrew Bell, they say:

Because Seattle Pacific turned video footage of the attack over to the Seattle Police Department as part of its cooperation with the investigation, that footage became subject to public disclosure requests. The television stations KIRO, KOMO, KING, and Q13 FOX filed requests under Washington’s Public Records Act. The victims and Seattle Pacific were forced to respond by suing in order to prevent the release of the videos of the violent attacks within Otto Miller Hall.

We the undersigned believe that a release of these tapes to the public would have immediate, severe, and lasting negative effects that far outweigh the press and public’s right to access said tapes.

The petitioners argue that releasing and airing these tapes would lead to continued trauma and copycats.

I have no doubt that this could lead to continued trauma. I feel for all of the students and their family who experienced this or knows someone who experienced this and I wouldn’t want to see the video if I were in their shoes, either. But continued trauma is not a reason to keep the media from this tape.

The most traumatic experience my generation has ever witnessed or experienced was 9/11. Yet, we have a ton of footage, including the very traumatic experience of victims throwing themselves from the towers to avoid being burned alive. The most traumatic experience many of our grandparents experienced was around the Holocaust — and yet we still have images of what went on.

It’s important to know what happened and why. In those cases, they were certainly historic events for the nation. And the shooting at SPU was meaningful to the community. It’s also being used by some politicians to push politically driven policies (remember Mayor Ed Murray saying this is “once again” an example of the “epidemic” of gun violence?).

Murray and others used what happened to try to change public policy. We have every right, as a community, to get the full picture of exactly what happened and why. Part of that means gaining access to a better picture of how the events of June 5 went down, even if it does cause discomfort.

Discomfort is not a reason to halt access to events that help shape our communities and our public policies.

With respect, it’s not for victims to decide what is relevant to journalists. They should never decide. They have a conflict of interest – a clear bias that will always push them to err on the side of their own comfort and emotional well-being. That’s human nature. It’s the stance I would take if I were a victim. That is bias, a bias that can’t easily be overcome and why they can’t impartially argue whether or not there is value for the video’s release.

Now, I do want to address this idea that releasing the video can lead to copycat behavior.

The petition says:

Releasing the videos of school shootings only serves to promote and advertise the goals and beliefs of those who commit these atrocious acts of violence. The Seattle Pacific gunman’s diary demonstrated what a profound effect the Columbine and Virginia Tech shooters had on him. He wrote that they became his “idols” and that he was seeking to emulate them. This cycle must be stopped – and seeking to allow the distribution of his reasonless destruction will only serve to inspire more like him.

There is no evidence to suggest otherwise healthy individuals will suddenly become inspired by acts of hate or violence. None.

The idea that not showing this video will suddenly stop someone who is already mentally unstable and capable of this from actually committing a crime – if you believe that, you’re giving off a false sense of safety.

The copycat theory isn’t relevant. I’d argue it doesn’t matter.

The cat is out of the bag. Violence is already out there. Video is already out there of various violent acts. Violent imagery is already out there. History is full of violent stories and images. Should we not teach kids about the Holocaust or 9/11 for fear some person will commit a copycat killing? For fear someone will say, “Well, it worked out for the Nazis, I’m going to do things a bit differently so I don’t get caught… but I can pull it off!”

Should we stop allowing violent films from being produced? No more movies with bad guys or killing, even if they make interesting societal points?

Should we ban books with violent scenes in them? You think at SPU they’re not reading books that include violence that can maybe inspire a crazy person?

Society – how we act, what we do — is not dictated by the mentally ill and killers. Nor should it be. Let the media decide if the tape is newsworthy and, frankly, they may not even air it.