giving guns to mental patients
godpt3
Posts: 1,020
Another Campus Tragedy -- With Guns in the Hands of a Mental Patient
One of the many alarming things about the latest college shooting (especially for someone with a kid in college), is the way the media have treated the issue of the shooter and his guns.
By Greg Mitchell
(February 16, 2008) -- One of the many alarming things about the latest college shooting (especially for someone with a kid in college), is the way the media have treated the issue of the shooter and his guns.
They generally describe it in terms of "move along, nothing to see here" by emphasizing that the deadly weapons were all purchased legally. It turns out that Steve Kazmierczak, the heavily medicated young man -- who had been institutionalized less than 10 years ago -- had recently bought six (not the earlier reported four) weapons, including a shotgun. He also purchased accessories online.
After high school, we now learn, Kazmierczak's parents sent him to a psychiatric treatment center for teens, where he lived for more than a year while getting therapy and medication for what was described as "unruly" behavior. Later he was booted out of the Army for an undisclosed reason.
Welcome to America, where former mental patients, still on medication, can walk up to a gun dealers' shop (in a basement or garage) and legally assemble an arsenal.
Here's the latest from the ABC News site: "Law enforcement authorities told ABC News that Kazmierczak had likely planned the assault on the school for at least five days. All four guns involved in the NIU shooting were purchased legally from the same Champaign, Ill., gun dealer, ABC News has learned. The Remington shotgun and the Glock 9 mm were purchased Feb. 9, 2008. The Hi Point 380 was purchased Dec. 30, 2007 and the SIG Sauer 9 mm was purchased Aug. 6, 2007 from the same gun dealer.
"Authorities were still checking where he obtained two other pistols, a 9 mm Sig Sauer and a Hi Point 380.
"In a disturbing twist, authorities report Kazmierczak purchased ammunition from the same website as the Virginia Tech gunman."
The owner of that site, Eric Thompson, told the Associated Press: “I’m shaking. I can’t believe somebody would order from us again and do this.”
I can.
One of the many alarming things about the latest college shooting (especially for someone with a kid in college), is the way the media have treated the issue of the shooter and his guns.
By Greg Mitchell
(February 16, 2008) -- One of the many alarming things about the latest college shooting (especially for someone with a kid in college), is the way the media have treated the issue of the shooter and his guns.
They generally describe it in terms of "move along, nothing to see here" by emphasizing that the deadly weapons were all purchased legally. It turns out that Steve Kazmierczak, the heavily medicated young man -- who had been institutionalized less than 10 years ago -- had recently bought six (not the earlier reported four) weapons, including a shotgun. He also purchased accessories online.
After high school, we now learn, Kazmierczak's parents sent him to a psychiatric treatment center for teens, where he lived for more than a year while getting therapy and medication for what was described as "unruly" behavior. Later he was booted out of the Army for an undisclosed reason.
Welcome to America, where former mental patients, still on medication, can walk up to a gun dealers' shop (in a basement or garage) and legally assemble an arsenal.
Here's the latest from the ABC News site: "Law enforcement authorities told ABC News that Kazmierczak had likely planned the assault on the school for at least five days. All four guns involved in the NIU shooting were purchased legally from the same Champaign, Ill., gun dealer, ABC News has learned. The Remington shotgun and the Glock 9 mm were purchased Feb. 9, 2008. The Hi Point 380 was purchased Dec. 30, 2007 and the SIG Sauer 9 mm was purchased Aug. 6, 2007 from the same gun dealer.
"Authorities were still checking where he obtained two other pistols, a 9 mm Sig Sauer and a Hi Point 380.
"In a disturbing twist, authorities report Kazmierczak purchased ammunition from the same website as the Virginia Tech gunman."
The owner of that site, Eric Thompson, told the Associated Press: “I’m shaking. I can’t believe somebody would order from us again and do this.”
I can.
"If all those sweet, young things were laid end to end, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised."
—Dorothy Parker
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6902/conspiracytheoriesxt6qt8.jpg
—Dorothy Parker
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6902/conspiracytheoriesxt6qt8.jpg
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Comments
If you go see a shrink, do you automatically get put on some national database of crazy people?
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
No.. I think a "shrink" should be responsible to notify authorities if they think their client has some absolute problems and is in danger of harming others... they have to report in "other" situations...
people can be "crazy" without the will to harm others...
You know, if a person has ever been committed to an institution, they probably shouldn't have access to guns. Ever. Now, I'm pretty sure that the firearms application has a place to check if you've ever been under psychiatric treatment. However, there's nothing to stop someone from simply lying on their application, and no real way for anyone to check. So the best solution is to create a national database, available to law enforcement and those performing background checks, of those who have been treated for mental illness. It's no different than registering sex offenders.
—Dorothy Parker
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6902/conspiracytheoriesxt6qt8.jpg
I agree about commitment, and I think that is the law. I could be wrong, but I don't think that this Illinois shooter was ever committed.
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
His parents committed him shortly after high school and I think he spent a year institutionalized.
—Dorothy Parker
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6902/conspiracytheoriesxt6qt8.jpg
Well, shit. I guess I'm a mental patient. Does this mean I can't get a gun? I really want to shoot my TV.
Guns aren't the only issue. We recently had a murder committed by a "mental patient" who admitted he carried around a butcher knife. This is what came of it: http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_012908WAB_caphill_charges_KS.6db91d65.html
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
And while I'm all for cutting down on the number of people allowed to keep a small arsenal at home, I don't see how you can use the "mental patient" criteria to do so. There are multitudes of people who are or have been under the care of a psychiatrist who are far less dangerous than someone who's never been in their life.
So what the US should also be debating about these shootings is mental health care, and ensuring that those that need it get it. If not, it's a very bad idea to have guns so easily accessible.
Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
:eek::eek: man, i wondered what the hell happneded in there and what was his reason. shit this is scary. i swear if i ever decide to travel to US i'll by myself a gun too
give them a gun.. give them all guns... even people who are in jail should have them, rapists and everything... it's their 'right' and that 'right' should not be infringed upon.. if people are going to take that 2nd amendment so literally then even 4 year olds should have guns as its their right.. i cant find anywhere that says "only sane people between the ages of 21 and 99 are allowed to bear arms" it says the people... c'mon give OJ a gun.. give Charles Manson some machine guns... why not? its their 'right'.
but how many americans who have a gun are part of a militia? do they have regular meet-ups, memberships, training, insurance, a hierachy of command, funds, etc etc... thats what i would term as "well regulated".. 1 guy having 9 guns in his bedroom incase a bad man comes in isnt part of a militia.. he should have his guns removed... it breaches the 2nd amendment
I'm asking it from a naïve point of view.
As a european, I've always been surprised, and a bit scared, by USA citizens' passion over firearms. What's the deal with guns and americans? I seriously don't understand. I'm not judging or anything.
It's just that I see more and more gun related topics so... Educate me.
We are a bunch of paranoid megalomaniacs. :rolleyes:
IMHO, of course.
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
well for one thing hunting is very big in the States
another thing is the 2nd Amendment
another thing is called the Castle Law (look it up yourself)
ps: I shot my first gun when I was 6, and it wasn't a bb gun either
PEARL JAM~San Antonio, TX. 4~5~03
INCUBUS~Houston, TX. 1~19~07
INCUBUS~Denver, CO. 2~8~07
Lollapalooza~Chicago, IL. 8~5~07
INCUBUS~Austin, TX. 9~3~07
Bonnaroo~Manchester, TN 6~14~08
The question is not why you own guns. The question is Why do you want to. And don't tell me it's only for hunting or defending yourself. I know those two arguments. What I want to understand is the passion around firearms.
And not just hunting firearms. I mean handguns and all. What's the deal?
you tell me
i was taught when i was young it was for hunting and self defense
but it is fun to shoot a gun
for the record i have never shot a person, and i pray to God i never have to
PEARL JAM~San Antonio, TX. 4~5~03
INCUBUS~Houston, TX. 1~19~07
INCUBUS~Denver, CO. 2~8~07
Lollapalooza~Chicago, IL. 8~5~07
INCUBUS~Austin, TX. 9~3~07
Bonnaroo~Manchester, TN 6~14~08
Still does not explain why USA citizens seem more passionate about guns than most populations. I know it's a generalisation, but it's based on what I feel. Maybe this feeling comes from mass media or the huge number of threads related to the issue and the number of americans who participate in those debates.
I mean I also would like to be able to defend myself if attacked, but still I (and it's just a personnal opinion, not a disguised judgment of some sort) think I'll never get a firearm in my house.
I guess I'd rather be robbed than have to shoot at somebody.
According to the Supreme Court, "A well regulated militia..." means the National Guard.
—Dorothy Parker
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6902/conspiracytheoriesxt6qt8.jpg