What do you think motivated the Columbine massacre?

Just asking questions.

I think this belongs in "Thoughts on the shooting". I also think there was a poll asking the same question.

This is true!

Norwegian wrote:

Just asking questions.

Randy Brown states that the so-called Nixon tapes explain the motives for the shooting. Unfortunately, Mr. Brown wasn't able to elaborate on what was on the tapes, and I haven't found anything to corroborate it. So, we will have to take his word for it because the tape doesn't exist anymore. It's gone apparently.

The Nixon tape is only Eric, correct?

It may spell out why Eric wanted to do it, but what about Dylan? I think they may have had two different motivations and they just gelled together. I don't think either of them would have committed the massacre on their own.

I wonder too how much information we would have gotten from the Basement Tapes or if it was genuinely the two of them just acting like edgy, angry teenagers with guns.

Screamingophelia wrote:

The Nixon tape is only Eric, correct?

It may spell out why Eric wanted to do it, but what about Dylan? I think they may have had two different motivations and they just gelled together. I don't think either of them would have committed the massacre on their own.

I wonder too how much information we would have gotten from the Basement Tapes or if it was genuinely the two of them just acting like edgy, angry teenagers with guns.

Yes, I believe it is only Eric. However, Eric recorded this at 2:00 AM on the morning of April 20. However, Mr. Brown states that "they" spell out their motivations on this tape, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department destroyed it. I don't know if Mr. Brown listened to the tape himself, but he is convinced that JeffCo destroyed it to cover up the investigation. I don't know how he knows this because Kate Battan or Dwayne Fuselier never had access to the tape. So, the mystery continues.

I didn't realize the Nixon tape was only Eric. That almost makes it more mysterious.


Hate to sound like a crazy conspirator, but I'd believe it if the tape would have explained things and JeffCo decided to get rid of it because it didn't fit the narrative they wanted.


Does anyone find it ironic how much work the boys put into these tapes and how much they wanted them blasted everywhere, but only a "handful" of people have even seen them? They wanted their motivations stated and their voices heard, but in the end they were silenced and ignored one last time.

whyno wrote:

Does anyone find it ironic how much work the boys put into these tapes and how much they wanted them blasted everywhere, but only a "handful" of people have even seen them? They wanted their motivations stated and their voices heard, but in the end they were silenced and ignored one last time.  

I guess it's Jeffco's way of saying 'we're not going to give them what they want' or 'we're not going to let killers talk and influence others'. Quite interesting that you brought this up because it's true. Their original plans didn't go to plan on the day or what they wanted after. "Don't think about arresting Mark Doe and Phillip Doe" etc. they both spent jail time either way. Also, it could be another subtle reminder that no matter what they said, or whatever is on those tapes are just by two crazy dudes who don't deserve any attention

Looks to me as if it was a final 'screw you, we won't give you what you want' but they still managed to influence in one way or another

shadowofthewill wrote:

Their original plans didn't go to plan on the day or what they wanted after. "Don't think about arresting Mark Doe and Phillip Doe" etc. they both spent jail time either way.

They also said "don't blame our parents" but large swathes of people did that anyway. I wonder how they'd feel if they had lived to see the aftermath of their actions...

  

Perfect storm.

Time period, the place, the culture, mental health issues, bullying/feeling alienated and their toxic friendship.

shadowofthewill wrote:

Looks to me as if it was a final 'screw you, we won't give you what you want' but they still managed to influence in one way or another

I believe you're right on the money, shadow.

I don't understand Mr. Brown's position at all. What would JCSO have to gain by destroying the Nixon tape? Why would the victim's parents sue JCSO over what Eric said on the tape? There's no indication that JCSO destroyed the evidence because Eric of what he stated on the tape. Like I've said in other posts, I don't know where Mr. Brown is getting his information. It's similar to Mr. Brown's Amazon comment where he stated that Eric's father verbally abused him. He wouldn't elaborate, only stated that he uncovered this information "in the course of [his] investigation." I hope he's not lying, as his remarks are libelous.

The Nixon tape was a micro-cassette from Eric's paper on Singapore interviewing some Singapore-dude named Nixon. It was left on the Harris's kitchen table. So, it would surprise me if Dylan was on it at all.

Eric taped over it and three quotes from it have ever been made public:  "It is less than nine hours now" (making it be some time around 2:30 a.m., also doubt Dylan was there then), "People will die because of me" (not us) and "It will be a day that will be remembered forever". Cullen said Kate Battan assured him there was nothing else significant on it.  So, it would be odd if she had never heard it: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I also did not know it was destroyed, but that is not surprising.