Why I think Lanza did what he did

I think he saw children as brainwashed to conform to the laws of society, which he hated. He mentioned children being misguided and brainwashed in many of his forum posts, and mentioned it in his radio talk about Travis the Chimp. He saw children as Travis, things that should not be domesticated that are anyway. He chose an elementary school to try to prove a point. That the next generation of kids were brainwashed and that they were lost causes, no longer worthy of living. At least that's what I think.

His sympathies of pedophilia likely lead to him not seeing children as the epitome of innocence. To him, killing children was likely just as relevant, and not worse than, killing any other age group.

abstractsmigs wrote:

His sympathies of pedophilia likely lead to him not seeing children as the epitome of innocence. To him, killing children was likely just as relevant, and not worse than, killing any other age group.  

Another parallel between him and Holden.

hate99 wrote:

I think he saw children as brainwashed to conform to the laws of society, which he hated. He mentioned children being misguided and brainwashed in many of his forum posts, and mentioned it in his radio talk about Travis the Chimp. He saw children as Travis, things that should not be domesticated that are anyway. He chose an elementary school to try to prove a point. That the next generation of kids were brainwashed and that they were lost causes, no longer worthy of living. At least that's what I think.

I agree that his target was hardly a random choice. He went to Sandy Hook Elementary school at one point and his mom volunteered there many years ago. He clearly saw children and adults as one and the same based on his opinions of pedophilia in general, such as suggesting that children are being repressed and controlled by adults and "society". There are a few facts here that I can gather. He did not just snap, all evidence points to this being a decision that was likely planned at least a few months to a year in advance. Emails that Adam Lanza had sent suggest that he was at one time not at the point to be mentally ready to do such an act of mass killing. At some point though likely around late 2011 or perhaps 2012. He knew and planned on killing himself and deliberately went out of his way to kill his mom as well. Suggesting that he had some very personal anger towards his family, not to mention him cutting off communications with his brother and father in 2010. As for why he not only killed his mother and himself but also the kids is a way to have his final act of defiance against a society that he felt was to blame for his anxiety and discomfort. My conclusion: Anxiety and Suicidal depression building up over many years with it being repressed internally, along with a build up of anger at his family and society ended up making him want to commit suicide and make a statement. He knew that when he died everyone would know about him after. Instead of having a private solo suicide he chose to attract attention with a mass shooting as well. This is a notable thing because Adam Lanza was shy and not someone who wanted attention ever in his life and so for him to end his life so loudly and abruptly seems to point to him wanting to get that relief from his anxiety and depression along with a final statement of sorts.

hate99 wrote:

I think he saw children as brainwashed to conform to the laws of society, which he hated.

Now that sounds like Eric Harris.

Not saying your interpretation is wrong. Just that Lanza's isolation, mental ilness and delusions should certainly be mentioned as part of the problem.

My theory:

He read through the old RPG forums and found a post where someone basically said "How could someone kill children? "

Then the thought dawned on Adam the kind of sick demented legacy he could leave behind.

Couple this with his pedophillic aspects and his saudade and twisted nostalgia for his childhood / sandy hook.