Adam Lanza Case

Introduction Adam Lanza was a troubled individual whose name will forever be associated with one of the most devastating school shootings in American history. On December 14, 2012, he entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and took the lives of 20 children and six staff members before taking his own life. This heartbreaking event has ignited discussions surrounding gun control, mental health, and the underlying causes of violence in society. By analyzing the risk factors that influenced Lanza's behavior, such as his mental illness and easy access to firearms, as well as delving into sociological theories like social learning theory and strain theory, we can gain a deeper insight into the complex issues surrounding mass

Although there were several crimes committed by the shooter, the three major crimes were murder under special circumstances, attempted murder under special circumstances, and murder (Sedensky, 2013, p. 3). Prior to the shooting, Lanza had no prior criminal history. While the shooting and his suicide were premeditated, the motive for the shooting remains unclear. It was known that the shooter suffered from severe mental health issues, but the only conclusion as to why he chose Sandy Hook Elementary School was possibly due to its proximity to his home. Risk and Protective Factors To understand why Lanza offended, it is important to examine the risk and protective factors that may have influenced his behavior, as well as the theories of offending that could help explain his actions. One of the key risk factors in the shooter’s case was his history of mental health issues. Research indicates that individuals suffering from severe or untreated mental illnesses may have an increased propensity for engaging in violent behavior (Metzl & MacLeish, 2015, p.

The shooter had a history of mental health problems such as Asperger's syndrome, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. According to Walkup and Rubin (2013), while mental illness is often associated with school shootings, it is not the only factor to consider. The feelings of anger and alienation are frequently overlooked or not effectively addressed in preventing these tragic events. Additionally, access to firearms played a significant role in the Sandy Hook massacre. The shooter had easy access to multiple firearms, including assault weapons, through his mother's legal gun ownership. Stricter gun control measures, such as universal background checks, waiting periods, and limits on firearm sales, could have potentially prevented the shooter from obtaining the weapons he used in the shooting. While there will certainly be different political viewpoints on gun control laws, studies have shown the presence of weapons can make people more aggressive (Bushman, 2013). In the case of the Sandy Hook shooter, he had access to firearms that were not properly