Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theory: Truther 'Hoax' Video Goes Viral, Rebuked by Experts
The hugely controversial Sandy Hook conspiracy theory rumors have received even more attention recently after a "truther" video went viral; being viewed by millions of people in just a week.
However, despite the increasing publicity of the arguments by conspiracy theorists , some experts in conspiracy theories have now stepped forward to rebuke the viral video as merely a marketing tool, and more just "asks questions" than offering any clear-cut evidence of any conspiracy, according to a Huffington Post report.
The controversial video entitled, "The Sandy Hook Shooting - Fully Exposed," was posted on YouTube under the username, "ThinkOutsideTheTV," and since its posting on Jan. 7 it has gained more than 10 million views.
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The video lasts for more than 30 minutes and goes through various news reports from the Newtown massacre and interviews conducting in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shootings.
At the start a disclaimer is posted stating, "This is a simple, logical video. No aliens, holigrams [sic], rituals or anything like that, just facts."
Benjamin Radford, author of "Media Mythmakers" and deputy editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, has said, according to the Huff Post: "The video begins with something that really everybody can accept -- 'We are just raising questions. The whole subject is framed like, 'Don't look at us, we're not saying this crazy stuff, we're just asking questions.'"
He added, "The classic conspiracy theorist sees the hidden hand in everything. Nothing is as it seems. There's something bigger that's going on. They don't know where it is, but they are willing to tantalize people and throw out any number of suggestions, which are oftentimes contradictory."
The Huff Post also spoke to David Mikkelson, founder of "Snopes.com": "In any kind of disaster or tragedy like this, if you go through things with a fine-toothed comb, you will find a number of contradictory statements. Of course most of them are cleared up within a few days of the initial reporting, but it's not something you're going to see in these [conspiracy] videos."
The video points to discrepancies in reports to do with the guns used in the shooting, with a rifle said to have been used by Adam Lanza in the school, but then later found in the car. It was reported later than there was a separate shotgun in the trunk of Lanza's car.
The hoax video also claims that some of the grieving parents are actors, and do not act appropriately following the horrific event.
The video maker also points to a number of memorial and fundraising websites for the Sandy Hook shootings set up a number of days before. However, some have suggested that search engine results do not always reflect accurately the date things first appeared on websites.
In one part of the video the commentator suggests one of the children killed in the shooting, 6 year old Emilie Parker, can be seen days later in a photo with President Barack Obama as he met their grieving family. However, others have pointed out that the lookalike is simply the girl's sister, who of course is still alive and did meet the president.
Towards the end of the video the truther commentator suggests there is an agenda why this "hoax" had been set up; to "disarm" Americans of their guns, and erode their Second Amendment rights. The video flashes up numerous articles, including one from The Christian Post, reporting on gun control proposals, and the debate surrounding new legislation on gun laws.
The video invites viewers to research the facts themselves and to look out for more postings in the future as more information emerges.
Of course, many have rebuked the video, calling it "insensitive" to the families involved in the tragedy, and especially those highlighted in the video as allegedly not grieving enough or in the appropriate way.
Here is a video of the viral Sandy Hook Shooting hoax truther posting:
