Thread: Why Sandy Hook Massacre Spawned Conspiracy Theories

Why Sandy Hook Massacre Spawned Conspiracy Theories

Benjamin Radford, LiveScience Bad Science Columnist
Date: 16 January 2013 Time: 11:25 AM E



One month after the Sandy Hook school shootings, the list of victims continues to grow. One man, Gene Rosen — who found six children and a bus driver in his driveway, brought them into his home, fed them and called parents to assure them that their children were safe — has been harassed by telephone, email and online by those who think he is lying about his actions, and is part of a conspiracy.

Rosen is not the first hero to be assaulted and insulted by conspiracy theorists with doubts. In 2002, when conspiracy theorist Bart Sibrel confronted astronaut Buzz Aldrin and called him a "coward and a liar" for faking the moon landings, the 72-year-old promptly punched Sibrel in the face.

A group called the Sandy Hook Truther movement has emerged from the dust and chaos over the past weeks to claim that the school shooting was all a staged event. Though many Americans are outraged and incredulous that anyone could doubt that the tragedy even happened, the Sandy Hook school shootings follow classic conspiracy thinking. Here are a few reasons why.

Poignant political implications

Shootings — even child murders — happen every day, several times a day, in America. According to UNICEF, America has the worst record of child abuse and homicide in the industrialized world, with an average of 27 children killed every week by their parents and caregivers. But those child murders don't have implications for enacting a national policy on gun control.

Most events producing conspiracy theories have important social and political implications, and the Sandy Hook shootings are no exception. No one, regardless of what side of the gun control issue they are on, can deny that guns played a key role in the Sandy Hook killings. So the conspiracy theorists must instead challenge the claim that the attack even occurred. They believe it's all a hoax to scare people into supporting more gun control and a step toward an outright repeal of the Second Amendment. [5 Milestones in Gun Control History]

'Holes' in the 'official story'

A common theme running through conspiracy thinking is that if you're smart enough, and just look closely enough at all the news coverage and available information, you can see lies and contradictions in accounts of the event. Truthers claim that they have found "absolute proof" that the shootings were a hoax, pointing to a 6-year-old girl named Emilie Parker, who was shot to death in the school massacre.

Or was she? They claim that the smoking-gun photographic proof that Emilie is still alive is that she was photographed after the shooting with President Obama during a visit with the families. The girl is actually Emilie's sister, wearing the same dress that Emilie wore in another photograph.

In the topsy-turvy world of conspiracy thinking, any little girl who resembles Emilie and is wearing the same dress as one she owned must be her. It could not possibly be her sister, who could not possibly be wearing either Emilie's dress or an identical one. Instead, it's obviously proof that the whole shooting was faked.

But this claim, even if it were true, raises more questions than it answers. For example, if Sandy Hook was indeed a "staged event" as claimed, with Emilie Parker alive and the president part of the conspiracy, why would the government be so careless as to release a photograph of Emilie, knowing that she had been reported dead in a carefully orchestrated national hoax? Is a widely published photo opportunity with the president of the United States really the best place to hide someone who is supposedly dead?

Conspiracy theorist websites offer dozens of other examples and pieces of evidence, ranging from real or perceived contradictions in eyewitness accounts to conflicting news reports. And indeed there are some contradictions. [The 10 Most Bizarre Conspiracy Theories]

The minds of conspiracy theorists

But what the conspiratorial mind sees as misinformation and lies, others see as merely perfectly ordinary incomplete and inaccurate information following a multifaceted tragedy. Especially in the hours and first days after such a chaotic and horrifying event, witnesses can be confused and mistaken. Police officers and reporters can misspeak, or be given incorrect information.

Not every single statement about what occurred, from dozens of different people in different places at different times, will agree in every detail. Three different witnesses to a minor car accident will often give three slightly different accounts of what they saw, so it's unrealistic to expect dozens of people who were involved in a chaotic school massacre to report exactly the same things.

Part of the reason that conspiracy theories linger is that any contradictory evidence — no matter how conclusive or compelling — can just be dismissed by claiming that it's part of the cover-up. There is ultimately no evidence that would satisfy most conspiracy theorists. Those who distrust the government will use any excuse to support their beliefs, logical or not. Conspiracy theorists prefer complex mysteries over simple truths, and find mystery where none exists.

Research has shown not only that a person who believes in one conspiracy theory is likely to support others, but also contradictions don't deter conspiracy theorists.

The idea that the Sandy Hook massacre was faked is not only absurd, but also an insult to the victims of the tragedy. The victims are really, provably gone; they are not safely hidden away somewhere until the Sandy Hook shooting has served its ultimate goal of taking away America's guns. The bullet holes are there. The children and adults are dead. Toxic conspiracies, however, will live on.

Benjamin Radford is deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer science magazine and author of six books, including "Media Mythmakers: How Journalists, Activists, and Advertisers Mislead Us." His website site is www.BenjaminRadford.com.

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Why Sandy Hook Massacre Spawned Conspiracy Theories | LiveScience

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http://www.alipac.us/f19/sandy-hook-...e-time-271178/

I just started to read this and I know this entire article is bogus because of this line.

Though many Americans are outraged and incredulous that anyone could doubt that the tragedy even happened

I have reviewed a lot of the justified concerns about the large amount of inaccurate information that the main stream media has put out about the terrible Sandy Hook tragedy.

None of the material Ive seen is claiming that the massacre did not happen.

This author, Benjamin Radford, is being very disingenuous by trying to sum up the concerns of many Americans about the official police theory or media version of events as claiming "nothing really happened"

W

If anyone in the media, or all of America are concerned about these 'conspiracy theories' about Sandy Hook, then instead of trying to demonize or belittle anyone with questions they should prove answers to the legitimate questions.

For starters, ask police to tell everyone who the man they arrested in the woods is and what the story is there.

Then release some video clips or still images from the security cameras showing Adam Lanza with a rifle.

Instead of clearing up parts of the story or putting out more accurate information, the defenders of the official story about Sandy Hook are trying to besmirch and intimidate people with questions instead of answering them.

Such behavior adds evidence to there being a conspiracy at work instead of diffusing such concerns.

W

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Newtown Conspiracy Theory Professor Becomes The Story

BY Charles Poladian | January 14 2013 10:27 PM

James Tracy, the professor behind the Newtown conspiracy theory, has gained national attention for his claim that the media’s coverage of the tragedy was orchestrated to further gun control legislation. The topic is still being discussed, but the story is no longer about just the Newtown conspiracy theory, it is about Tracy himself.


(Photo: GRTV via Youtube)
Florida Atlantic University Professor James Tracy teaches media studies, and, due to the controversy surrounding his conspiracy theory, his job may soon be in jeopardy.

Florida Atlantic University Professor James Tracy teaches media studies, and, due to the controversy surrounding his conspiracy theory, his job may soon be in jeopardy.

The Newtown conspiracy theory started on Tracy’s personal blog,

Memoryholeblog.com. In a series of articles, culminating in the updated “Sandy Hook School Massacre Timeline,” Tracy, a professor at Florida Atlantic University, details what he calls an organized effort behind the media’s portrayal of the Sandy Hook shooting.

Tracy notes the conflicting reports that initially emerged from the media as well as early eyewitness accounts of the rampage that led to the deaths of 28 people, 20 of whom were children, including gunman Adam Lanza. Tracy lays out his thesis that the numerous contradictory reports, including eyewitness accounts of multiple shadows, footage of additional suspects, reports of more than one suspect being arrested and questioned, indicate a larger conspiracy surrounding the coverage.

Namely, President Barack Obama’s administration’s efforts to push gun control legislation.

According to Tracy, the idea of a lone gunman being responsible for the Sandy Hook shooting is a narrative that was pushed to fast-track gun control legislation. The idea that one person was responsible for the Sandy Hook shooting, using high-powered guns legally owned by his mother, is a much more powerful narrative than a massacre planned and carried out by a group of people, says Tracy.

Since Tracy’s conspiracy theory drew national attention, he has made plenty of public appearances to promote it. It’s understandable that Tracy has received a share of the spotlight stemming from his Newtown conspiracy theory, especially when the event is only now just one month old, but now Tracy may becoming just as much of the story himself.

In two posts over the weekend, Tracy posted a statement in regards to his turning down an appearance on CNN's “Anderson Cooper 360” and another where he claims Cooper is out to harm him.

Tracy claims that Cooper singled him out for scorn, broadcasting his photo, even inciting the public to harm him. In the comment section on the CNN story, Tracy responded to a reader’s comment with a link of Cooper’s supposed CIA connection.

While Tracy did not comment much on the Cooper post, he did update the Sandy Hook timeline to include the incident.

In the updated timeline, Tracy writes, “CNN anchor Anderson Cooper launches blistering attack on Florida Atlantic University Professor James F. Tracy for 'spinning conspiracy theories' and declining to appear on his cable news program, ‘Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees [sic].’”

According to Tracy, CNN sent one of their local reporters, John Zarraella, to FAU. Tracy claims that Zarraella interviewed Mary Jane Saunders, FAU’s president. Tracy then claims Zarraella went to his home, shot some footage to use later and tried to get a phone interview with him. Tracy declined, which led to the release of the statement on his blog.

Tracy proceeds to end the entry with a description of Cooper’s demeanor on the show: “Throughout the segment, Cooper appeared indignant that he and CNN’s journalistic efforts in the wake of the December 14 tragedy would be questioned. ‘To suggest that reporters on the ground didn’t work to find out what happened there on the ground is beyond crazy,’ Cooper opined. ‘Everybody asked questions. That’s what we do.’”

Tracy is far from finished with the Newtown conspiracy and it seems he's only attracted even more attention. It will be interesting to see if Tracy does back away from the spotlight, as he claims his family has urged him to do, or if he continues to focus on his conspiracy theory and his own role in it.

http://www.ibtimes.com/newtown-conspiracy-theory-professor-becomes-story-1014988

Yes, they are after James F. Tracy simply for asking that the public be given more accurate information. CNN and other elites will now seek to destroy James F. Tracy to send a message to any other American slaves that might dare to open their mouths with questions.

Screw Anderson Cooper and CNN. I would make short work of Cooper in any debate.

W

Conspiracy theories claim Newtown shootings were a hoax

By Bryon Saxton, Scott Schwebke
Standard-Examiner staff
Wed, 1/16/2013 - 3:16pm

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OGDEN — YouTube videos claiming the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Conn., were staged appear to be based on a fear of government, authority and people’s fragmentation of reality, according to a Weber State University professor.

The videos were recently shared with the Standard-Examiner by Larry Pierce, a retired litigation lawyer living in Hornby Island, British Columbia.

One of the videos in the series has had more than 134,000 views.

Jill Cottle Garrett, the aunt of Sandy Hook victim 6-year-old Emilie Parker, an Ogden native, said Wednesday she is aware of the conspiracy theories surrounding the shootings and offered an opinion as to why they occur.

“The people I know that buy into conspiracy theories, in general, are people who fear the government,” she said.

Click here Absolute Proof Sandy Hook was Staged - YouTube

“They are using the same sound bites the mass media is using to build their own story instead of asking reasonable questions and looking into facts.”

Pierce said the purpose behind the staged killings theory, by whatever group is behind it, is to provide the American public “a false flag attack, someone who wants to bring in gun control. You can’t get the masses whipped up without getting them scared,” he said.

WSU Assistant Sociology Professor Pepper Glass said he believes the claims made on the video could be in response to fear — of gun control, of President Barack Obama, government and of authority.

“What you get is a fragmentation of reality,” Glass said.

Similar conspiracy theories surrounded the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, amid claims that they were staged as part of an effort by then- President George W. Bush to push the country into war.

And the fear of those behind the Sandy Hook videos of having their guns taken away from them, Glass said, is greater than the fear they have of the people they may offend in making such claims, such as the family of the victims.

Pierce, in a telephone interview, said he is not a conspiracy theorist, but maintained that the claims made in the video are credible. He said he forwarded the videos to the Standard-Examiner because the newspaper published stories about Emilie Parker.

The Parker family was originally from Ogden and had recently moved to Newtown, Conn., as a result of a job relocation.

Pierce said the video shows Obama meeting with the Parker family days following the shooting, and claimed it shows Emilie Parker in a favorite red dress.

Pierce said he also suspects that some of the surviving victims interviewed by media were actors.

“I don’t know what to think about it,” Pierce said.

He said for that reason he forwarded the videos to four or five media outlets across the world, the Standard-Examiner included.

“It is making the rounds," Pierce said of the videos. “It is just so puzzling and shocking. There has got to be an explanation.”

A Facebook page has also been established that claims the Sandy Hook shooting was staged and that Emilie Parker is in the photograph with Obama.

Brooke Ann Prothero, a close friend of Robbie and Alissa Parker, who are Emilie’s parents, debunked the theory in a post on the Facebook page.

“Did anyone notice the difference in age in her (Emilie’s) face from the picture of her in the red dress, age 4, to the picture of her in the pink shirt, age 6?” the post says. “Yeah, her face has matured. It’s her little sister that is wearing that dress with Obama. A treasured Christmas dress hand-me-down from her big sister Emilie. Madeline is there with Obama only because she has lost her best friend in the whole world. People think they are so brilliant because they notice the same dress. And then they open their mouth and show everyone just what idiots they really are.”

Pierce, who formerly lived in Dallas, Texas, and has family there, said it is his hope that members of the media will knock on some doors.

“I think (the public) will trust the media if they go out and ask the hard questions,” he said.

People are “meaning-making animals,” Glass said, constantly wanting to make sense of the world, and with that there is a shared reality of what takes place.

But with the Internet there is a reshaping of that reality, he said, versus believing media reports.

http://www.standard.net/stories/2013/01/09/conspiracy-theories-claim-newtown-shootings-were-hoax