The comedian Bill Maher demanded a complete “media blackout” on school shooters on Friday, claiming that the continuous attention paid to those who conduct such crimes may make the thought of performing similar crimes appealing to some people.
On Friday’s edition of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Maher said that he did not want to see any information about the accused shooters, particularly if denying publicity might deter someone else from deciding to open fire in a school in the future.
“As the media waits impatiently for all this information about the gunman, I’d like to add, “How about we implement a blackout on the gunmen along with what they did?” Maher began, to the audience’s cheers.
Maher added, “Now, in baseball, when someone sprints on the field, the camera does not capture it. Yesterday was the start of the baseball season. They don’t publicize that individual in any way. Why can’t we at least attempt to do that here in this nation?”
“Please don’t talk about it to me. We are aware that it took place. I don’t want to know about this individual, their age, what their credo said, or what orientation they are. I don’t care about any of it because it will only serve as inspiration for the following one because they all draw off of one another,” he continued. “That is the very least the journalists could do.”
Maher’s proposal actually aligns with a rule that The Daily Wire adopted just days after the 2018 killing at Marjorie Stonemason Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, under the guidance of editor emeritus Ben Shapiro.
Shapiro stated at the time that “it has grown to be increasingly apparent in recent years that the value of the general public knowing specific names and photos of mass murderers is greatly outweighed by the likelihood of encouraging more mass killings.” According to studies, “media coverage of mass killings can have a big effect on how mass shooters feel about themselves. These shooters may also have a cognitive need for recognition, which they believe they will get by carrying out atrocities.”
