AWN Urges Media Caution When Reporting On Parkland Florida School Shooting

AWN urges caution when speculating about any mental health diagnosis of the shooter in the recent Florida tragedy. News outlets have already begun speculating about the shooter’s possible links to mental health. We especially implore the media to resist their usual patterns of stereotyping people with disabilities when these kinds of killings occur. People with disabilities are unfailingly more often the victims of crimes as opposed to the violent criminals whereby they are wrongly portrayed. AWN’s thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the community of Parkland Florida.