James Holmes may have Aspergers?

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James Holmes is about as likely to be autistic as he is to be a Martian. I also doubt he's bipolar or schizophrenic.

However, "normal" people don't go on shooting sprees. Someone does something like this, they are almost certainly diagnosable with something.

Its easy for us to appreciate how 'bullycide' works

This is similar. Yet we struggle to accept our own can become heinous murderers

In new zealand we have recently been promoting anti bullying measures [esp, regarding facebook, texting and social media]

due the the high incidence of young people committing suicide after being bullied publicly via websites

recently groups of young people [who know each other, from small towns] have been killing themselves

one by one over the space of a few months....

I sincerely hope progressive measures are implemented.

Otherwise bullycide and mass murders will become more frequent in our societies.... 'normal' 'aspie' or 'whatever'

Anyways this is what gave me the impression you were implying mentally ill people are more likely than 'normal' people to do something like that.

The something I was referring to was psychopathy or sociopathy, which are not technically mental illnesses, but more a matter of personality, or at least in the case of psychopathy, a neurological issue.

Those aren't nessisarily diagnosible and I have never heard either referred to as neurological issues...but maybe. But that makes more sense.

I'll admit that I've never been to the USA, but the context of apparent easy access to weapons and ammo, and the prevailing violence of mass culture (endless superhero films, shooter video games), surely contributed to this tragedy enormously.

Anyways this is what gave me the impression you were implying mentally ill people are more likely than 'normal' people to do something like that.

A team of New York Times reporters and researchers, in examining the nature of these attacks and the individuals involved, compiled a detailed database on 100 such cases over the past 50 years. The series of articles published in The Times this week based on that research offered several new insights. Although such killings account for only one-tenth of 1 percent of all homicides, the series confirmed the public perception that they appear to be increasing. It also found that rampage killers share several traits. Most are better educated than typical murderers, are more likely to have military experience, and are far more likely to kill themselves.

Cultural influences on this group, such as violent entertainment, seemed to have little impact. Instead, the most common factor was serious mental health problems. About half had received formal diagnosis of mental illness, often schizophrenia. More than half made threats, and a third had histories of violent behavior. Many never received treatment for mental disorders or were not monitored to keep them on their medication. Most of their rampage attacks were not sudden, impulsive acts but the culmination of years of rage, depression and mental illness. Often the failure of families, co-workers and even therapists to deal with warning signs led to catastrophic consequences.

Even with greater care in spotting mental disturbance, there can never be a perfect system. But the other crucial factor in rampage killings, access to guns, can be affected through legislation and regulation. More than half the killers, including those with histories of hospitalization for mental illness, were able to buy guns easily. While federal law prohibits the sale of guns to those who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution, most states do not conduct background checks on a purchaser's psychiatric history.

I'll admit that I've never been to the USA, but the context of apparent easy access to weapons and ammo, and the prevailing violence of mass culture (endless superhero films, shooter video games), surely contributed to this tragedy enormously.

anyone have linky to courtroom video of him? thanks