‘Facts’ in letter about shootings not backed up

Inara Powers' April 1 letter stated “Nearly all of the school shooters have come from hunting backgrounds, and many other mass murderers as well.”

The source of these “facts” was not provided; my significant Web searching did not substantiate these claims. What I did find was that clinical and forensic psychologists and psychiatrists have developed a profile of mass murderers. Common characteristics include narcissism, depression, substance abuse and history of childhood trauma (such as being abused, bullied or marginalized by others).

A U.S. federal government study found

50 percent of school shooters had extreme depression and 25 percent had severe problems with drugs and/or alcohol. Almost three-quarters of the shooters felt persecuted, bullied, threatened, attacked or injured by others before the incident (U.S. Secret Service and Department of Education, 2002).

Hunting was not referenced as a factor in any report.

Ninety-five percent of mass murderers are male. Following Powers' logic, the presence of males in our population “has dire consequences on society.” Few would agree with such an irresponsible statement. Individuals who spread fear of any group based on myths and innuendos should be a greater concern to society than any hunter I know.

Mary Allen

Central City