Parents of the Covenant School shooter have reportedly requested that their child’s manifesto be kept private.

Parents Fight to Keep Manifesto Private to Protect Survivors

Parents of The Covenant School shooter have made a heartfelt plea to prevent the release of the highly contested manifesto, in order to shield the survivors from further trauma, according to documents obtained by local media.

“Evidence from suicides and trauma following past mass murders and scientific research shows that material like the Writings can cause additional psychological trauma to the surviving victims,” the documents state, according to Fox 17.

It has been almost three months since a tragic mass shooting took place at the private Presbyterian school, claiming the lives of six individuals, including three 9-year-old students. Out of respect for the victims, the shooter will not be named, in accordance with Daily Wire policy against giving mass shooters undeserved notoriety.

The victims were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, William Kinney, Katherine Koonce, Cynthia Peak, and Mike Hill.

The transfer documents reveal that the shooter’s parents are determined to prevent the dissemination, copying, distribution, publication, or unauthorized use of the manifesto. They also seek damages on behalf of the children affected by any infringement or misappropriation of the Intellectual Property Rights.

Since the incident, there has been a heated debate regarding the release of the shooter’s manifesto. While some argue for its public disclosure, citing transparency, others, including the school and a group of parents, emphasize the security and safety concerns of the students and staff.

Various organizations, such as the National Police Association, Tennessee Firearms Association, The Tennessee Star, The Tennessean newspaper, and Republican State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, have requested the release of the documents. On the other hand, attorneys for the shooter’s parents have notified the court of their intention to assign the rights of the manifesto to the families of the victims.

Once the ownership transfer is complete, it is expected that the manifesto will remain private, ensuring the protection of the survivors, as reported by the outlet.

“If they own the papers, then they have standing over whether they will be released or not,” the attorney said.

Although the writings are currently in the possession of the Metro Nashville Police Department, if the court rules in favor of keeping the manifesto private, the parents will gain possession and ensure its seal from public access.

Ben Whitehead contributed to this report.

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