How to Avoid Raising a Serial Killer!

Last week, Tampa authorities announced the arrest of a serial killer who had almost kept the Seminole Heights neighborhood hostage for 51 days and had killed four innocent Tampa residents. Officials have the gun that was used in all four killings and the killer admitted to owning the weapon. The Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan declared, “I assure you this is the man who did this.” However, the killer did not admit the killings nor is there a motive at this time.

 

What many authorities overlook is that evil people don’t need a motive. They do evil because they are evil. Often, they think they are doing the world a favor by eliminating prostitutes, politicians, or perceived threats to the killer or to society. 

 

While it is always shocking to learn of serial killings, they are going on all the time - usually done by men, with women as their victims. Serial killers have an average I.Q. of 94.5; however, they come from all segments of society, even medical doctors.

 

A new report released this week in The New Yorker reveals “there are probably around 2,000 serial killers at large in the U.S.,” not the 500 as reported by the FBI! Researcher Thomas Hargrove has catalogued 751,785 murders since 1976. The FBI has 27,000 fewer in their records because some states do not report the cases to the FBI as required by law. 

 

While the authorities want to apprehend serial killers since there are 1400 unsolved murders linked through DNA at present, I am interested in where those killers came from. The fact is, they come from our homes, and the future serial killers are nourished and developed unknowingly toward their future activities.

 

Of course, not all serial killers fit the overall image of a serial killer, but the vast majority do. So, how does a family avoid rearing a serial killer?

 

Children must know above all that they are loved and accepted even if they do unacceptable, unpleasant, even unlawful things. They must learn early the difference between right and wrong with the understanding that doing wrong produces undesirable consequences. They must realize that they must do the right thing because it is the right thing, not only because of dreadful consequences.

 

His discipline must be fair and consistent which is a major failure in most homes. Either the parents disagree as to discipline (in a child’s presence), or they don’t always follow through with discipline with each and every infraction. He must know that the home has structure and there is a goal - to make him into a productive human rather than letting him grow up like a wild animal. He must understand that he is going to school and must obey the rules, respect the teachers, and do the required work. If he is permitted to satisfy all his desires, he will grow up like a weed. He must be guided and molded into a loving, concerned, obedient, and productive person. That never happens accidentally.

 

A child must understand that he cannot do anything he wants to do: eat what he wants to eat, wear what he wants to wear, watch any television he chooses to watch, go wherever he wants to go, or run with whomever he chooses to run with. However, as he gets older, he will receive more and more privileges and responsibilities.

 

Every child from time to time needs discipline and correction. That will sometimes require a swat on the rear and if given young enough, consistently enough, and with love, the results will be positive. He knows his parents love him enough to help mold him into the person that will not take advantage of others or their property. Only fools call reasonable corporal punishment child abuse, but many Americans have bought into that philosophy. By the way, how has that worked out?

 

Every child should know that there are rules, regulations, and requirements in his life. He cannot do what he wants when he wants to do it with no repercussions. 

 

When he learns vulgar talk from older boys, parents should not overact and show alarm, anger, or agitation; however, such talk must not be permitted. Often, the child doesn’t know the meaning of the terms he is using.

 

When he shows a mean streak, it must be dealt with wisely and consistently. One problem with serial killers is they have been abused by a parent, or they observe a mother’s boyfriend abuse her. The potential killer transfers his hatred and mean streak toward his toys, animals, or school mates. This is a general truth evident in almost every serial killer.  

 

To help develop a child, he should be taken to Sunday School and church by both parents who should encourage his participation in church activities. We are told that it is coercion for you to get him dressed and take him by the hand to Sunday School and church; but it is also coercion to make him clean his room, take out the garbage, and go to school, but loving parents do so. Non-thinkers have said that Bible teaching “forced down his throat” will drive him insane. Sure, and the cow jumped over the moon.

 

If he goes to Sunday School and youth meetings he will learn to sing, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.” He may even learn to sing the catchy ditty, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black, and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” He will learn from that song that God loves everyone; that people of all races are equal in God’s sight and are to be respected and loved.

 

Such songs suggest that Jesus is God, and that may offend Muslim friends in the neighborhood or school. After all, we are told, Allah should have equal billing with Jesus and we must permit kids to decide whether they want to be Christians or Islamists. However, your child is forming his life’s standards so he needs all your encouragement to influence him in the “right” way.

 

Moreover, at church he will no doubt be taught the Ten Commandments are to be obeyed by everyone at all times followed by consequences if they are not kept. We are told that is too much stress for a kid to live with. If he hears about the Ten Commandments, he may become convinced that he is expected to obey them. He should grow up knowing it is wrong to lie even though most people lie every day. People are deceptive, disingenuous, and even dishonest every day. It’s a fact of life but he should be challenged to always tell the truth all the time even if the truth makes him uncomfortable.

 

The truth will set you free but it stings at times.

 

Another commandment that he must learn is the one that forbids adultery. Now, every boy should be taught to respect females starting with his mother and sisters. While it is true that boys will be boys, it is also true that boys can become sexual abusers and rapists and serial killers. Therefore, he must understand that a little fornication now and then is not expected and will result in serious consequences.

 

 

So, you have been successful in exposing your child to Christian influence; you have lovingly and consistently disciplined him; he has been taught to exercise self-control; he understands that he cannot do what he wants, go where he wants, wear what he wants, and say what he wants. He has learned not to be selfish, mean-spirited, angry at the world, and determined to have his own way at all times, so you have prepared him for a normal life.

 

If you have failed to a degree, in the above, and he has been reared in a home without the necessary perimeters, love, and discipline, he is probably insecure and has major personality disorders. He may be wetting the bed often even as he grows older, and if he likes to start fires, you may have a very violent boy in your home.

 

You must realize your failure, then repent, and return to common sense and biblical training of children while there is still time to make a difference in his life. If not, you will notice that his rage and lack of control is taken out on his toys then small animals. Even as young as four he may show a lack of concern for a cat or dog. He will get pleasure in pulling tails and ears and throwing pets around. If he plunges one into kerosene or gasoline and sets it on fire, you have a potential killer.

 

When he is a teen, you may notice that he is angry, out of control, hates school, is a loner, and is a bully - depending on his size. By this time, you are getting concerned over the problems in the school and neighborhood so you are forced into getting him help. He will probably end up on a highly potent medicine that may accelerate his personality disorders that have developed over his short life.

 

With the addition of mind-altering drugs, you have a disturbed, dangerous, even deadly teen who can explode any moment. That moment could be when he puts on a trench coat, gets access to weapons, and explodes during the beginning of his math class making headlines as a teen mass killer.

 

Or, he will more likely seethe in abnormal, antagonistic anger and sexual frustration possibly killing a fellow college student, more often than not, a woman. Seventy percent of serial killers’ victims are women. If he gets away with that killing, he may go on to more because of the drug-like high it produces.

 

Every parent should honestly evaluate his or her child training and its results; and if there are obvious problems with a child then immediate steps must be taken to remedy the problem. It might be that professional help is needed but I caution you to be very careful in choosing a specialist. If he or she is a typical humanist with no biblical training then you may be adding gas to a fire.

 

It’s time to evaluate, then take action if action is needed. For sure, you don’t want to rear a serial killer.


[EDITOR'S NOTE: There is no guarantee that you WON'T raise a serial killer. But the more you do better for your kids, the more likely you won't! Our hearts go out to the families of both the victims and the perpetrator in this most recent crime and arrest.]