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(LifeSiteNews) — On June 10 and June 14, I reported on leaked sections of the so-called “manifesto” of Audrey Hale, the trans-identified school shooter who killed three 9-year-old children and three adults at Covenant Christian School on March 27, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. LGBT groups had called for the suppression of Hale’s writings immediately after the murders for fear that (another) transgender shooter would have some politically inconvenient things to say. The press and the police largely cooperated, with the exception of several leaks earlier this year.  

Those leaks included photos of Hale’s journals, in which she wrote of her hatred for her Christian parents, her desire for puberty blockers, and her fervent hope for a “high death count” when she started shooting those “white privileged crackers.” In the second leak, including pages published by Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire, Hale fantasized about having a male body and sodomizing girls, and attacked Christians as transphobic bigots. Some phrases and numbers were difficult to decipher or decode. 

READ: Full 90 pages of Nashville shooter’s ‘manifesto’ reveal obsession with gender confusion, suicide 

Now, The Tennessee Star has published the full, unredacted “manifesto” of Audrey Hale (who refers to herself throughout the notebook as “Aiden,” her transgender identity). It is about 90 pages and is not so much a “manifesto” as a series of disjointed ramblings, much of it sounding like it was written by someone tormented by unrequited love; most of it is sexual and obsessive. Combine that with Hale’s gender dysphoria and this Christian school girl turned transgender terrorist was clearly a deeply disturbed and angry person. 

I spent some time reading through all of Hale’s writing and found much of it incoherent. At one point, she writes, “This love will never end until I am up in heaven where hurt is no more and I can love you and be in no more pain,” appearing to refer to a breakup. Shortly thereafter: “Everything hurts.” The name “Syd” shows up frequently; these letters are apparently to or about Hale’s friend Sydney Sims, who died in a car accident in 2022. Hale was clearly infatuated by her. Comments referring to her transgender identity are throughout the notebook: 

“I am a boy with a vagina.”

“Audrey is not my name.”

“A terrible feeling to know I am nothing of the gender I was born of.”

“I am the most unhappy boy alive.”

“I will be of no use of love for any girl if I don’t have what they need: Boy’s body/male gender.”

“If God won’t give me a boy body in Heaven,” followed by a blasphemous declaration.

“Why does my brain not work? Because I was born wrong!”

“I hate society b/c society ignores to see me. I’m a queer; I am meant to die.”

She had apparently been planning her school shooting for some time. On January 16, 2023, she wrote, “I’m so sorry Nikki. I didn’t mean to plan my massacre on the 17th. I’m going to be a terrible s**t for leaving you. How bad my heart hurts. Tomorrow is my last day on earth. I love you. I am so sorry. Audrey (Aiden).” Underneath, she scribbled: “Ps—Not leaving yet. I couldn’t do it. I don’t want to ruin your day. I’ll wait as planned.” 

Two pages later: “Paige, I’m going to kill people someday. Please don’t be mad … I’m going to do something bad. It’s too sad to think what you might feel. I’m so sorry. I love you. I just have to die. I think God will enter me in heaven. If I do get there I’ll be waiting for you. Aiden.” 

READ: Federal court sides with DeSantis, rules Florida can enforce ban on ‘gender transitions’ for children 

Paige Patton was one of Hale’s friends. Hale messaged her the day of the shooting saying that she would die that day; Patton alerted the authorities, but they didn’t respond to her until after the shooting.  

“So now, in America, it makes one a criminal to have a gun or be transgender or non-binary,” Hale wrote on another page. On the opposite page, a chilling note: “Covenant was closed yesterday. I guess it was b/c of the weather … 2/18/23.” Several pages later: “In less than 26 days, my final day, Death Day, will finally await me. 3/27/23.” On March 13, after packing several pages with grotesque, clearly porn-inspired sexual fantasies: “I’m sorry innocent lives will be taken.” In a reference to the Columbine shooters: “I want my massacre to end in a way that Eric (Harris) + Dylan (Klebold) would be proud of.”  

The final page was written on the day of the massacre. “Forgive me God, this act will be inglorious,” she wrote. 

Death Day! Today is the day. The day has finally come! I can’t believe it’s here. Don’t know how I was able to get this far, but here I am. I’m a little nervous, but excited too. Been excited for two weeks. There were several times I could have been caught, especially back in the summer of 2021. None of that matters now. I’m almost an hour and 7 minutes away. Can’t believe I’m doing this, but I’m ready … I hope my victims aren’t. My only fear is if anything goes wrong … God let my wrath take over my anxiety. It might be 10 minutes tops. It might be 3-7. It’s gunna go quick. I hope I have a high death count. Ready to die haha.

It was signed “Aiden.” 

Shortly after writing those words, 28-year-old Audrey Hale entered The Covenant Christian School with two AR-style weapons and a handgun, shooting open a locked side door to gain access. She began her shooting spree at around 10:13 a.m., killing three 9-year-old children – Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney – and three adults – 61-year-old substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 60-year-old principal Dr. Katherine Koonce, and 61-year-old custodian Mike Hill. Less than 15 minutes later, Hale was shot and killed by two police officers. 

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Jonathon’s writings have been translated into more than six languages and in addition to LifeSiteNews, has been published in the National Post, National Review, First Things, The Federalist, The American Conservative, The Stream, the Jewish Independent, the Hamilton Spectator, Reformed Perspective Magazine, and LifeNews, among others. He is a contributing editor to The European Conservative.

His insights have been featured on CTV, Global News, and the CBC, as well as over twenty radio stations. He regularly speaks on a variety of social issues at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

He is the author of The Culture War, Seeing is Believing: Why Our Culture Must Face the Victims of Abortion, Patriots: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Pro-Life Movement, Prairie Lion: The Life and Times of Ted Byfield, and co-author of A Guide to Discussing Assisted Suicide with Blaise Alleyne.

Jonathon serves as the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform.

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