Key points:
- Mass shooting survivors are utilizing copyright law to prevent the release of perpetrators' writings.
- A 2024 Nashville ruling prevented the release of a school shooter’s journals, citing copyright concerns.
- This strategy helps prevent trauma and addresses concerns about copycat crimes.
In July 2024, survivors of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville won a major legal victory when Judge I'Ashea Myles ruled that the shooter’s journals and other writings could not be released due to copyright law. The writings were signed over to the victims' families, who used copyright as a legal tool to control public access. This decision came after ongoing legal battles following the March 2023 shooting, where six people, including three children, were killed.
This ruling reflects a growing trend where survivors of mass shootings are turning to copyright law to protect themselves from being retraumatized by the media’s focus on perpetrators. For example, in another case, a Parkland survivor obtained the copyright to the shooter’s name, ensuring it cannot be reproduced without permission. The emotional toll of being repeatedly exposed to the names and works of these assailants drives this legal strategy, as survivors seek to shift the narrative from killers to victims.
Advocates also argue that suppressing the release of writings like these could prevent future tragedies. Research has shown that mass shootings often inspire copycats, with media coverage of perpetrators potentially elevating them into figures of notoriety. Judge Myles noted the copycat risk in her ruling, emphasizing that the shooter had idolized past mass killers and planned their attack based on writings from other perpetrators.
Despite the emotional and societal benefits seen by some, the use of copyright law in this context is controversial. Critics argue that copyright law was not designed for these situations, and some legal experts believe it has been misapplied in cases like the Nashville ruling. Still, survivors and families maintain that controlling public access to these materials is crucial for their healing process and for preventing further violence inspired by these acts.
As more survivors explore the use of copyright law, the courts will continue to grapple with its role in mass shooting cases. For now, survivors are leveraging this tool to regain some control over their stories and limit the media’s fixation on their trauma.
