Today, as Newtown and the nation mourns, we focus the conversation on mental health and gun control. Also, Chief Becks plan to keep LAUSD schools safe. Later, director Benh Zeitlin rallies ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild.’ All that and more, on AirTalk.
As Newtown grieves, national conversation begins about mental health and violence
The mourning process has begun in Newtown, Connecticut following the mass murder of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday. After a weekend of vigils and community gathering, as well as a visit last night from President Obama, today the families of two of the young victims are holding funerals. Law enforcement officials say that a full investigation may take months, but already, a national conversation about motivation and prevention has begun.
At the forefront of everyone’s mind are issues of gun control and mental health. As the world awaits an explanation of this horrific crime, public diagnoses and speculation run wild. Sources who knew Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old gunman, say that he had a developmental disorder.
In responses to the killing spree, news outlets have speculated about what mental illness or illnesses might be attributed to mass murderers. One notable blog post, “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother,” attracted a lot of attention this weekend – its author discussed the difficulty of raising a violent child and not knowing what motivated their actions.
In response to the slew of conjecture about mental illness and violence, many mental health professionals and several parents of autistic children have spoken up publicly about the issue of autism and empathy, saying that autism and Asperger’s do not directly link to violence.
What is the best way to approach the topic of mental health in the wake of such a serious crime? What role, if any, could transformations in the mental healthcare system have in preventing incidents like the Newtown massacre? Is the relationship between mental health and extreme violence as crucial as gun safety? Which issue should politicians approach more aggressively?
Guests:
Craig LeMoult, Senior Reporter for WSHU in Fairfield, Connecticut, currently on the ground in Newtown
Tracy Fass, Ph.D in Clinical Psychology, Program Director and Associate Professor at the California School of Forensic Studies, researches the area of risk assessment and juvenile offenders, recently focused on the treatment of juveniles with pervasive developmental disorders in corrections system
Connecticut school massacre renews calls for gun control, but will legislation effectively prevent mass shootings?
The recent massacre in Newtown, Connecticut has reignited the gun control debate in the United States to a height rarely seen, but whether or not the debate will result in any legislative action remains to be observed. The shooting is only the most recent of a string of horrific incidents of gun violence spanning back to the 1999 Columbine shootings. In 2007, 32 people were killed in a mass shooting at Virginia Tech; 13 were fatally shot at Fort Hood near Killeen, Texas in 2009; a killing spree in Arizona last year resulted in six deaths; and 12 lives ended in a movie theater in Colorado earlier this year.
Despite the fact that mass shootings have become more frequent and more deadly, popular support of gun rights has actually increased, according to Pew Research Center polls. Additionally, background checks for gun purchases have nearly doubled to 16.8 million in the last decade, according to the FBI.
Now, elected leaders across the country, including President Obama, are calling for change. Following his promise on Friday of “meaningful action,” Obama on Sunday night said, "In the coming weeks, I will use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens -- from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators -- in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this," while speaking at a prayer vigil in Newtown. California Senator Dianne Feinstein pledged Sunday to introduce new gun-control legislation at the beginning of next year’s congressional session, while speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Despite their very public condemnations and insistence for stricter gun control, few politicians have been specific about how new laws will effectively prevent tragedies like the one in the Newtown.
Do we need more extensive background checks? Is a reinstitution of the federal assault weapons bans needed? Or would an increased waiting period to obtain firearms help stop mass shootings?
Guests:
Adam Winkler, Constitutional law professor at UCLA; author of Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America (2011); writer for The Huffington Post & Daily Beast
Chuck Michel, Attorney for the National Rifle Association, Author of a new book, "California Gun Laws: A guide to state and federal firearm regulations"
Ben Van Houten, Staff Attorney, Legal Community Against Violence based in San Francisco
LAPD to make presence felt on LAUSD campuses
In light of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck is making security at LAUSD schools his top priority. Beck, while addressing the media on Sunday after an LAPD cadet graduation at USC’s Galen Center, announced an initiative that see10,000 LA police officers visit every kindergarten, elementary and middle school in the LAUSD at least once a day.
The concept is to make students and parents alike feel safe at their schools and also for officers, school administrators, and parents to develop strong relationships. The plan would be set in place by the end of winter break – coordination and training for the LAPD will take place over the next 22 days in order to be ready by January 7th. Chief Beck also stated that private schools would be extended this service if they so desire.
What do you think of this added security at elementary and middle schools? Will these changes make a difference?
Guests:
Rina Palta, KPCC reporter
Dr. John Deasy, Superintendent of LAUSD
Director Benh Zeitlin rallies ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’
“Beasts of the Southern Wild,” the first feature film from writer/director/composer Benh Zeitlin, was one of this year’s indie darlings. The film garnered praise from reviewers and audiences alike, inspiring speculation early on about its award-season prospects.
Quvenzhané Wallis stars as Hushpuppy, a young girl caught up in the turmoil of the big storm that hits her bayou community. As she and her friends struggle to hold onto their home even as the floodwaters rise, Hushpuppy goes on a search for her lost mother and copes with her father’s failing health. Despite being touted as a thrilling directorial debut featuring award-worthy performances from Wallace and the rest of the cast, “Beasts” hasn’t won any major nominations so far. It was ineligible for the Screen Actors Guild Awards because it was produced without an actor’s union contract; the nominations for the Golden Globes completely passed over the movie.
What’s ahead for “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and director Benh Zeitlin as Oscar nominations approach? Does the film deserve any Academy Awards? Zeitlin joins Larry to discuss his work.
Guest:
Benh Zeitlin, Director, co-writer and co-composer of “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
The Missing Ink: is handwriting a dying art?
Would you recognize your friend’s handwriting? As technology becomes ubiquitous in communication culture, handwritten letters and notes are less and less common, replaced instead by emails and text messages. Diaries full of handwritten accounts lose out to blog posts, the art of handwriting is dying.
In “The Missing Ink,” author Philip Hensher tells the story of the “endangered” art, going back into handwriting’s history to examine how people learn this skill and what impact it has on their lives. Charming and accessible, Hensher’s book is inspired by the author’s quest to know his own friends’ writing, and to prevent himself and his readers from losing one of the ways we recognize each other.Hensher celebrates the rich history of handwriting, but also the act of writing itself.
With only five states requiring handwriting be taught in schools, is this medium dying? Is the loss of handwriting worth mourning, or should we embrace type for its legibility and ease? With handwriting playing less of a role in expression, will people be judged by what they say regardless of how their writing looks?
Guest:
Philip Hensher, author of “The Missing Ink” (Faber & Faber), columnist for The Independent, arts critic for The Spectator, and one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists; his other books include “The Mulberry Empire,” “King of the Badgers,” and “The Northern Clemency”;