Statement from Michael John Carley on the Newtown, CT shootings

We here at GRASP (and I as the father of two school-age boys), cannot be more saddened and devastated by the news of the shootings in Newtown, CT. Our thoughts, wishes, prayers, and heaviest hearts go out to the victims and their families.

While it has not been confirmed, two major news outlets are now speculating that the shooter, Adam Lanza, had been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Much remains to be seen to provide the full picture of who this man was, but AS may indeed have been a part of his makeup.

We urge everyone to remember what GRASP has stated since our beginning: That having Asperger’s or the autism spectrum in your life—as an individual, a parent...etc.—does not carry any bearing with whether or not you will become (for lack of a better term) "a good person" in this life. While the majority of statistics prove that we are infinitely more prone to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators of violence, we are not immune from becoming people capable of making terrible, horrible choices. No one is.

So we ask that everyone please steer away from getting too caught up in the spectrum angle. Let us focus instead on mourning; lamenting through grief that such a terrible and tragic event befell us all on this awful, awful day. Let us focus on the families impacted, and care for them, so that someday far off maybe we can explain—though never justify—what happened today. Perhaps then we will finally force those responsible for our care to pass legislations that could have helped prevent this tragedy, or revoke the legislations that may have assisted it.

With our greatest condolences to those impacted,

Peace,

Michael John Carley

Executive Director

GRASP

Comment by Lisa DeSherlia on December 14, 2012 at 11:46pm: VERY well-said, MJC

I tried to cover these points in my blog today (leaving out the ASD issue).

There is a published address where we can send cards and condolences; sending cards is something all of us can do.

Cards and condolences are to be sent to:

Sandy Hook Elementary School

12 Dickenson Drive

Sandy Hook, CT 06482

Comment by rachal bales on December 14, 2012 at 11:57pm: Beautiful words, Michael, thank you. I hate that I have to have a conversation with my kids about the steps to take if you hear gunshots at school.

Comment by Samantha McHugh on December 15, 2012 at 12:07am: I pray for these families. I hope that the Spectrum information does not become an issue. I feel it will only place unnecessary blame on the wrong issues instead of focusing on maintaining the safety on our schools. Thank u for your statement Mr. Carley

Comment by Carol on December 15, 2012 at 2:19am: I am so saddened by this tragedy. I also thank you, Mr. Carley. I hope that our children do not suffer any backlash from what is being reported.

Comment by Terry McKean on December 15, 2012 at 2:47am: The problem is not>> that Adam Lanza is an aspy. The problem is the fact that he was put on psychiatric drugs and they drove him psychotic.

Comment by Erica Payne on December 15, 2012 at 1:39pm: This tragedy is beyond words. I'm disgusted and very saddened by the media's exploitation of Aspergers/Autism for everything that happens in society that goes wrong.

Comment by Xenia Grant on December 15, 2012 at 1:58pm: May God have mercy on all of us. Prayers to those who survived in CT. And prayers for the repose of souls who died.

Comment by Repent on December 15, 2012 at 3:46pm: Aready I saw an article suggesting people with Aspergers have 'a causal link to violence'. My daughter and I, both with Autism/ Asperger's are not dangers to society. It bothers me people right away call us all monsters:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-12-15/newtown-shooter-had-asperg...

This is a tragedy, but we shouldn't all be stignifed by it.

Comment by Lisa DeSherlia on December 15, 2012 at 7:05pm: It was irresponsible and inappropriate on the part of the media for even mentioning anything about ASDs in connection with this horror, until the investigation has been complete. I will be very saddened if this shooter is confirmed to have had an ASD but I will not be shocked. This is because, as Carley has stated, that none of us, regardless of our disabilities or what we may have survived, are immune from making poor or even criminal choices. It is too bad the so much ignorance of ASDs remains. I'm the mom of a beautiful, precious girl with the PDD-NOS dx. And I have a suspected (by others as well as by myself) and I have two appts lined up, one on Jan. 3, 2012 by a neuropsychologist, and an appt on Oct. 29, 2013 by an autism specialist. Even if this shooter had an ASD, it will not begin to explain what he did. Reports indicate that his environment may have played a huge factor. Whatever the cause (s) are, all this speculation and talk about ASDs and "personality disorders (not the same thing) are side issues and totally redundant in discussions about this tragedy. As research tells us over and over, we with ASDs or other reated disabilities are much more likely to become victims rather than perpetrators of crimes BUT anyone of us can "snap" and do rash things. All I can say is prayers to all who have been touched by this and RIP to the innocent 20 children and adults whose lives were taken far too early. May God help us all to become a more welcome, caring society.

.

Comment by Stephanie C. Fox, J.D. on December 15, 2012 at 7:06pm: The police who are talking with the media are already doing their part to stigmatize us. One of the high-ranking officers at the scene called Asperger's a disease today.

I won't feel better about the fact that this damned shooter was an Aspie unless and until the media talks about the pharmaceuticals that he was prescribed. I suspect that their purpose was to make him more like neurotypicals, and that he sensed that lack of acceptance, and it ate at him.

Still, he should not have shot anyone.

This is the last thing we Aspies need.

If anyone sees an article explaining the pharmaceutical link to this disaster, I would really like to know. Meanwhile, I will keep looking. This reports about this shouldn't be saying or even suggesting that Asperger's is a precursor to or cause of violent behavior.