Defense Tech Dad Tom Shachtman has written over thirty books — including a trilogy on serial killers, and an exhaustive study of Amish youth, Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish.
So it’s only natural, in the wake of the tragedy at the West Nickel Mines Amish School, that the MSM is turning to him for analysis. Here’s an NBC Nightly News segment from last night, and a Newsweek Q&A, posted this afternoon.
NEWSWEEK: Has the Amish community ever had to deal with anything like this?
Tom Shachtman: No, this is terrifyingly unique. Thats not to say they havent faced tragedy before. On a regular basis you do hear about events where a truck hits a buggy on the road and kills four or five people. Less occasionally, youll hear about a fire in a home that cant get put out. But in terms of multiple deaths as a result of this kind of violence, this is incredibly unusual. I cant think of a similar incident.
How familiar with violence are a lot of these children?
Not at all. This is a total shock to these kids because they have no experience with violence. We do, and our children do. We watch violence all the time. Were not impervious to it, but we are familiar with it whereas these Amish children are not at all. They dont watch TV; dont watch movies. These are the most vulnerable children you could imagine. Theyve been tremendously sheltered all of their lives against depictions of violence. They are nave, but theyre very nice. You?ve never seen a group of more polite people in your life than some of these Amish kids. And theyre very vulnerable because of it and in our society, vulnerability gets taken for weakness, and thats what happened here.
UPDATE 10/04/06 12:47 AM: Here he is in the Times, the New York Post, and the AP.
Society in general is getting ruder and more dangerous.
Anyone who is gentle and unarmed is vulnerable to horrible demons like the recent killer. This awful news out of the Amish country really scares and depresses me. Now I think no school is safe and I’m scared as hell.
I am not sure if the world is headed in the right direction when these horrific events occur. The “people” who commit these crimes are deadly bullies.
This crime reminds and haunts me of what evil people are capable of doing. A creepy large man approached, leered, glared and then shouted obscenities (like his head was going to explode) at my young daughter a couple of weeks back in a Mcdonalds play area. (I had my eyes on her constantly, too. This happened right in front of me.) I quickly whisked her away and begged her not to go back to that play area. I am a smaller woman and gentle,non violent person — I was alone with my daughter and I was very scared and practically speechless. I was unsure of this creep’s mental state and just ignored that a$$##ole. How dare these monsters prey upon the innocent . Now I feel guilt, anger and regret for not reporting the employees and authorities. I was just shaking, shocked and speechless at the time.
Nowadays, you never which psycho idiot is carrying a weapon and there’s nothing the good people in this world can do about it. We can only be vigilant. I am unsure if gun control is the answer because any idiot who’s determined will get a weapon one way or another. Then the responsible, law abiding people won’t have a way to protect themselves.
Sorry this is so long but I needed to express my dismay. Hope no more of these hellish events take place and the good folks in the world stay safe from now on.
Its sad that something so heinous was to happen to arguably the worlds most peaceful and selfless people. Its commendable how the amish have stood strong and forgiving against this abominable act.
Killers know they’ll be safe in school zones because nobody else is allowed to carry. Even police or security will be clearly marked and can be avoided or taken out ahead of time. Until we find some politicians with the guts to do something like this, it will keep happening:
School Protection Act of 2007:
1)All schools covered by this legislation of size determined by Legislature are required to have a set percentage of employees and/or staff to be armed pursuant to the following parameters:
a.Schools falling below the size limits set by Legislature will be required to have a set number of employees and/or staff so armed and qualified as defined and determined by this legislation.
2)Armed employees will otherwise qualify for and obtain a concealed carry permit as required by law;
3)Employees will be required to attend classes given by state or local law enforcement or the Attorney General
CR, that is fantastic. I love it.
Has anyone heard what happened when the Ayatollah ordered Israeli schools to be targeted? or why there have been NO school shootings in Israel? We could learn a valuable lesson from this.
The Amish are saintly people. Evil prays upon good.
Arm the teachers? What, against their will? What is wrong with you? I am against gun control — in the form of removing our capacity to own and carry, but the poster that commented that the solution is to arm teachers is, well, over the top cracked. You simply can’t require an employee to carry a weapon, unless it is a part of their job. I haven’t heard anything as asinine in quite some time.
Why not just require mandatory psyhological screening of all men, with lie detectors? Shoot the potential pedophiles in the back of the head — hey, it doesn’t matter if they have actually DONE something, the propensity is their and we HAVE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN!
I don’t know what the answer is. I do know, with certainty, that the answer is NOT to panic and pass stupid legislation that would be impossible to enforce, and likey would be found unconstutional on many levels. I am a “big, tough” former Marine with over 23 years in the military, and this story has affected me more than just about anything else I have read lately. Maybe because I have two girls in the same age range.
This isn’t the first, last or worse event to happen in schools, in this country or elsewhere. It is a terrible event, all the more so because of the peace-loving culture that was impacted. Let’s not compound the tragedy by creating an environment in which our children are watched over by armed teachers. The day that happens is the day that I quit my job and start home-schooling.
I’m so sorry that our world with all its hate and violence would enter your world of peace and do such a monstrous thing. I worry about my child every day. I pray for you
This was a tragic event that even with all the violence that we supposedly see and hear all day long, is a bit beyond believe for me.
Just because violence is seen and heard I believe does not lend the right for another person in our society to act out their own violence upon others. It is a fact that it happens, but still a shame. Completely senseless.
The Amish people are the rarest of people who have offered some hope to this evil world through their saintly being. It is most unfortunate that such people were targeted. I have no words to express my feelings for this tragic incident and suffering it has caused some families. The children will surely be in heaven and that is our greatest hope.
THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST DISPICABLE AND HORRIFYING ACT I HAVE EVER HEARD OF IN MY LIFE. THIS WORLD IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. NO DOUBT. THIS MAN COMMITTED AN ATROCITY THAT I DO BELIEVE WAS WORSE THAN 9/11. SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE INNOCENCE OF THE VICTIMS INVOLVED. OF COURSE NOT THE NUMBERS. HE DID THIS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO SPITE AND GET BACK AT GOD. THE CHILDREN SLAUGHTERED WERE ALL THE APPROXIMATE AGE OF HIS DAUGHTER, ALISE, WHO HAD DIED 20 MINUTES AFTER BEING BORN NINE YEARS AGO. CHILDREN ARE INNOCENT AND PRECIOUS IN GENERAL, BUT THE AMISH CHILDREN ARE BEYOND INNOCENCE. THEY ARE SHELTERED AND PROTECTED FROM THE EVIL INFLUENCE OF THIS WORLD. IRONIC AS IT MAY SOUND, THANK GOD HE DIDN’T SUCCEED IN HIS ENTIRE PLANS OF MOST PROBABLY PUTTING THESE LITTLE GIRLS THROUGH HELL BEFORE KILLING THEM ANYHOW. MY ONLY SOLICE IS THAT THEY ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY AT THIS VERY MOMENT. THEY SEE HIS FACE. THEY WILL NEVER, NEVER, NEVER EXPERIENCE PAIN OR SADNESS AGAIN. A SINGLE TEAR WILL NEVER ROLL DOWN THEIR CHEEKS EVER AGAIN. AS FOR ROBERTS? HE MUST SURELY BE CURSING THE DAY HE WAS EVEN BORN. HE’S DOOMED.HE WILL NEVER SEE HIS ELISE AND AS FOR GOD? HE PROBABLY HAS ACCOMMODATED ROBERTS BY KEEPING HIM FROM HIS PRESENCE FOREVER. THIS MAN WAS MOST DEFINITELY A SERVANT OF THE DEVIL.
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