"Newtown, An American Tragedy" by Matthew Lysiak

[Loveabull]

Obviously this is not light reading. But it's a well written account of the school shooting at Newtown. Most importantly after chronicling that terrible day, after the funerals, the author explores "Why?".

Some key points raised by the book. It has been mistakenly reported that the guns used were fully legal. While they were legal for Adam Lanza's mother to own. But Connecticut law forbids a child under twenty one to possess or have access to firearms. Adam's mother allowed her son to collect a small arsenal of legal weapons.

The author also present's Adam's mother in a different, more understanding light. Anyone who has ever had to deal with a serious disturbed teen knows the helplessness that comes with it. The US mental health service is understaffed and overworked. Even for the children that find appropriate treatment have limited options sometimes.

When a child becomes eighteen a parent has little if any recourse in getting mental health services for their child. Meaning the health care system assumes on the day they turn eighteen a dangerously troubled child will be able to magically navigate their own treatment plan.

The image presented of Adam's mother is that of a hard-working devoted woman devoted to her sons. Once again, anyone who has ever been on the front line with a child knows that sometimes desperate placating seems like an option. You find yourself trying to minimize the reality while feeling helpless.

Adam's mother gave him life but didn't necessarily create what he became. Likewise outside influences are explored. Video games then become the villain of the piece. What's missing in that explanation is that shooter games like "Gears of War" are cartoony depictions. They are not step by step massacre instructions.

It's conceivable certainly that someone could play "Crazy Taxi" and be influenced enough to plan to steal a commercial vehicle, then go on a rampage of running over and beating pedestrians. But logically that would have to be a rather unbalanced individual to begin with.

Various crimes over the last few decades have blamed the influence of everything from the music of Black Sabbath to Twinkies. It's not about the video games, or the music, or perceived parental neglect. It's about the holes in the mental health system that allow tragedies like Newtown to happen.

The justice system is impotent in monitoring individuals who stay under the radar. We have an estranged family member who illustrates this point. Petty arrests as a teen, a history of anger issues, behavior like barking at trees, alcoholism...it's chilling to know that by Virginia law he's welcome to firearms.

This book leaves the reader with a lot to consider...to say the least.

[Hearty Guy]

I appreciate a good review when I read one, and this review is well done. That said, and having also visited Amazon to take a Look Inside, I'll pass on reading the actual book. I do feel for the parents and the victims, and if I had a high school aged child I would probably give it further thought. In the world (and especially nation) where the news media generally gives us a steady diet of negative information, it is already a struggle to "look for reasons to feel good", so I'll not be choosing to read this book – just as the reviewer may not have chosen to write this review but had it been assigned to him or her. But I'm making a lot of suppositions and you know what they say about the word Assume, right?

[needcowbell]

I agree with Hearty Guy. I'm not going to read this book. As objective as the author might be, it would be impossible
to separate this tragedy from the image I have of the media. They have, if you will, "blood on their hands." They're
ghouls who enjoy what they do: pouring salt in the wounds of the surviving victims. The surviving victims being the
relatives and loved ones of those massacred. What scum. Ugh.

[Loveabull]

Like I said this is not light reading. But I also feel that countries with no second amendment are perhaps squelching their citizens freedom in a good way. Yes in any country someone unbalanced can find a firearm, concoct a bomb of some kind, even rampage with a machete.

But especially after Newtown it became clear how unregulated guns are in this country. I never realized how many places don't require background checks, how people can stock up at gun shows and if they have the cash they can build the arsenal of their dreams.

I feel this is an important book because it documents the events in a thorough yet thoughtful way...quite objective. There is a chapter where Adams surviving brother eulogizes his mother. His brother is not a monster, just a young man who will spend the rest of his life carrying the burden of his family.