The Virginia Tech shootings, the Omaha mall shootings, and now the killings at the Northern Illinois University, have all splashed photos and life stories of the killers over the major news networks.

But shouldn't the real focus be the victims? Shouldn't we honor them and their lives instead of giving infamy to the twisted-minded killers who made names for themselves in the worst possible way?

I, for one, was outraged to turn on CNN and see, yet again, the picture of a school shooter enlarged on my screen. How can the media even acknowledge such a person?

When a huge tragedy like this happens, the killer is, in a weird way, glamorized; their whole life story is revealed, family and friends are quoted, and their dark thoughts and desires for eternal fame are echoed on major news networks. Their faces are plastered across TV screens and newspapers for weeks, and in the end, it is the face of the killer that we remember. And sadly, they get the fame they may have wanted. It might be that the overdone news coverage reaches others, some perhaps with disturbing thoughts of their own, some perhaps seeking the same kind of infamy.

News stations should consider re-aligning their codes of ethics. The news networks should make a deal with eachother that the next time someone commits a horrific act such as the Virginia Tech shootings, the Omaha mall shootings, or the Northern Illinois University shootings, the names of the killers will be withheld, no information will be released, and no attention will be drawn to them.

Instead, the media's focus will be to honor the victims, and discuss safety measures that could be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

So this is a challenge to news networks everywhere. Don't reward criminals for bad behavior by giving them air time. Instead, focus on how you can report the story from a different angle, such as focusing on paying respect to the victims.

The victims, not the killers, are the ones that should be remembered in our thoughts and hearts. To the families and friends of the victims at the Northern Illinois University shootings: My deepest condolences, and you are in my prayers during this difficult time. May your loved ones live on in your hearts and their memories cherished.

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