I couldn’t find a copy of the text of what he wrote if it was released, but apparently he sent them to the press (not specific victims) and announced his intention to go on a a mass shooting because of his frustrations over the city council’s sinking of his business. The manifesto was an eight-pager, so I assume there was a lot of rambling in there. I don’t think he was targeting anyone specifically…apparently he’d planned to do his rampage at a shopping mall first then decided to go to the Super Bowl.

Given the circumstances, I think the cops are charging him fairly…the guy sounds like he’s not particularly stable, but I hope people have some sympathy for the fact that he did come to his senses, he didn’t follow through with his plan and that he did feel remorse for his actions. Everyone does have their breaking point, after all and can act rashly when they’re upset. That said, had he followed through with what he had planned I likely wouldn’t be sympathetic to him at all. My point of posting this was more just to illustrate that when governments follow arbitrary policies that can wreck peoples’ lives unintended consequences can often follow…sometimes horrible and tragic unintended consequences.

That may make a powerful difference in his defense.