We Demand Audrey Hale's Unredacted Manifesto Be Made Public

It's Either A "Nothingburger" Or A "Blueprint For Total Destruction", It Can't Be Both And We Need To Judge For Ourselves

A Video Still Image Of Audrey Hale Alive

Do you think it's the authorities' responsibility to shield the public from the twisted thoughts of violent criminals? And what about the families of the victims—should they be able to block public access to records about what the attackers did? These are some important questions that come up when we talk about preventing mass attacks by denying attention to the perpetrators, especially when issues of ideology, culture, and policy are involved. The ongoing discussion about whether or not to release the manifesto of the Covenant School shooter is just the latest example of this debate, and like all the others, it should be settled by recognizing the public's right to information.

So, following the tragic shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee on March 27, it was disclosed by the police that the perpetrator, Audrey Hale, had actually left behind a written document outlining the preparations leading up to the crime.

On April 3, Metropolitan Nashville police made an announcement regarding the discoveries made in Audrey Hale's vehicle at the school parking lot, as well as in her bedroom at home. These findings included a collection of writings, documented in journals, in which she detailed her months-long planning for a mass murder at The Covenant School. The writings are currently undergoing thorough examination by the MNPD and the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, Virginia. While the motive behind Hale's actions remains under investigation by the Homicide Unit, with guidance from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, it is known that she had been influenced by the actions of other mass murderers.

After Audrey Hale was fatally shot by the responding police, the documents she left behind became the sole record of what might have driven her to carry out a horrific murder spree resulting in the deaths of three children and three adults. Given the nature of the attack, which involved firearms and was committed by a transgender individual (Hale, who identified as a man under the name "Aiden" but was biologically female), the public naturally had a vested interest in understanding the incident. The hope was that these writings would provide insights into the crime and potentially shed light on similar tragedies.

However, the authorities have not provided much clarity regarding the contents of the documents. Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Director David Rausch referred to them as "'ramblings' rather than writings that point to a clear motive," according to The Tennessean, one of the outlets pushing for their release. On the other hand, Metro Nashville Council Member Courtney Johnston described them as a "blueprint on total destruction" that was incredibly detailed in terms of Hale's planned actions. Such contrasting characterizations make it difficult to reconcile the differing views. In a time when trust in institutions is declining, members of the public may prefer to form their own conclusions rather than relying on conflicting accounts from officials.

Unfortunately, the release of the documents has been significantly delayed, much to the frustration of the public. The Nashville police have been slow in making them available, and they have even pointed to ongoing lawsuits and administrative appeals as reasons for the continued hold-up.

To complicate matters further, the Covenant School has now taken legal action to prevent the release of the documents, arguing that they may contain sensitive information that belongs to the school.

Adding to the complexity, just recently, Hale's parents have attempted to distance themselves from the controversy by transferring ownership of the documents to the families of the victims. These families hope that this move will strengthen their case for suppressing the writings. However, it remains uncertain how successful their efforts will be, given that the documents are currently in the possession of the police and are considered to be related to a crime of significant public interest.

Audrey Hale’s Parents, Ronald and Norma

It's evident that the public is deeply interested and concerned about the case. Various organizations, including media outlets, have filed lawsuits to gain access to information surrounding these highly publicized murders. Numerous questions arise: Was Audrey Hale driven by an anti-Christian bias? Did her experiences as a former student at the school influence her actions? Did she draw inspiration from previous school shooters? Could the ongoing debate around transgender identity have played a role? And what about the broader topics of self-defense rights and access to firearms? Did Hale consider and strategize around common security measures? Given these compelling and pressing inquiries, it's understandable that researchers, journalists, activists, and individuals in general are eager to examine the materials left behind by Hale.

We've seen a similar scenario unfold in the past when officials attempted to suppress the thoughts of a criminal in order to downplay the crime and its associated concerns. After Brenton Harrison Tarrant carried out a mass murder in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019, the government made efforts to erase his eco-fascist manifesto from public view. They argued that the document was intentionally designed to incite further acts of violence and terrorism. New Zealand authorities not only prosecuted their own citizens for sharing it but also pressured private companies elsewhere to follow suit.

However, analysts discovered that the manifesto provided valuable insights into ideological shifts and terrorist tactics. For instance, it shed light on the anti-immigrant aspects of eco-fascism, dedicating a significant portion to promoting what was termed "Green Nationalism," as highlighted by Alejandro Beutel in the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. Others drew parallels between the author's media strategies and those employed by groups like ISIS or sought to identify potential connections among far-right extremists globally.

So, in this case, a document produced by a mass murderer, which government officials initially tried to suppress, ultimately proved to be a valuable resource for those seeking to understand criminals, their motivations, and their tactics. It provided crucial insights for individuals examining ways to prevent future incidents and defend against them. Given this precedent, it raises the question of why Audrey Hale's writings would necessarily be any less informative for those interested in comprehending the mindset of criminals, their motives, and strategies, while seeking effective measures to mitigate similar incidents.

Another crucial aspect to consider is that law enforcement agencies, which hold Audrey Hale's writings, are funded by the taxes paid by the public. In theory, they have a responsibility to that public. Their role is to protect people from crimes, not to hinder their pursuit of understanding through the examination of the malevolent thoughts of criminals. While the administrators of the Covenant School and the families of the victims are also members of the public, their understandable desire to move past this horrifying incident should not override the public's interest in preventing future occurrences like Hale's actions.

Moreover, those in positions of power cannot simply hide documents from the public and expect them to blindly trust and accept their decision. Confidence in law enforcement and the criminal justice system has been dwindling. Gallup reports that in 2021, only 51 percent of respondents expressed a great deal or a lot of confidence in the police, and that number dropped to 45 percent in 2022. Similarly, only 20 percent of respondents had a great deal or a lot of confidence in the criminal justice system in 2021, and that figure decreased to 14 percent in 2022. Individuals requesting access to Hale's manifesto or "ramblings" may have more faith in their own judgment regarding the significance of the writings than in the opinions of those in positions of authority.

This is especially true when Hale's documents could potentially be relevant to ongoing debates. Anti-gun activists have already attempted to make a case for stricter gun laws based on this crime. Others argue that the murderer's actions were driven by anger over the treatment of transgender individuals. People deserve to know the contents of these documents, as suppressing them only fuels suspicions about their nature.

Regardless of the specific content, the public has a right to access and examine the writings. Government officials lack the authority and credibility to stand in the way of fulfilling that right.