Nashville school shooter’s writings reignite debate over releasing material written by mass killers

By TRAVIS LOLLER
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In Tennessee, a request for police to release a school shooter’s private writings has morphed into a complex multiparty legal fight. With no national standard over how to treat such records, both sides claim their position is in the public interest. One one side, the parents of traumatized students want the writings kept secret. They say the release will inspire copycats. On the other side, a coalition of local news outlets, nonprofits, and a Republican lawmaker want the writings released. They say it will help experts understand mass shootings and develop policies to thwart them.