The Bullet as Shitpost: Media Won't Publish Manifestos but Scrawls on Casings Ok
17 hours ago
- #gun-violence
- #media-ethics
- #authoritarianism
- Investigative reporter Alain Stephens covers gun violence, arms trafficking, and federal law enforcement.
- Recent U.S. shootings feature suspects writing memes, slogans, or codewords on shell casings, blending internet culture with violence.
- Examples include 'ANTI-ICE' on a casing in Dallas and internet memes on cartridges at Charlie Kirk’s assassination scene.
- Messages on casings are seen as performances for viral attention rather than coherent political statements.
- Media often misinterprets these messages as ideological manifestos, amplifying shooters' notoriety.
- Experts warn that the content is often ironic or absurdist, rooted in meme culture rather than genuine belief.
- Historical context shows graffiti on weapons is ancient, but modern shooters target social media virality.
- Mainstream media’s focus on shooters' messages risks glorifying them and ignoring root causes of violence.
- Journalism ethics guidelines like 'No Notoriety' urge minimizing coverage of killers' messages to prevent replication.
- Trump’s authoritarian actions, including ignoring court orders and controlling federal agencies, are escalating.
- The Intercept highlights the importance of press freedom in resisting Trump’s democratic backsliding.