Exactly. Red flags are ALWAYS there. |
I will definitely point the finger at the person who closed all the mental hospitals in favor of block grants to states which then, per the Republican playbook ever since, sucked the $ into other areas and not into mental health supports. And, I suspect that all the homeless that you see (mostly veterans) would also like to have a word with Ronald Reagan. The "lobby" from the early 60s pushed for many supports for mentally ill people that were never implemented as an alternative to institutionalization. Surprise, you cannot just wish away massive societal problems. Like mental illness *or* gun control. So yes, I do blame Reagan for the actual actions he took in defunding all our mental institutions, and the ensuing lack of funding for mental health supports. I am not a huge fan of the DOGE gutting of our existing, inadequate supports, and think we need to get serious about helping focus resources on those with mental health issues. You should read American Psychosis: How the Federal Government Destroyed the Mental Illness Treatment System by E. Fuller Torrey (he is a local if you are from DC; he's a Bethesda psychiatrist). Super interesting history -- and yes, lots of people in both parties wanted to stop institutionalizing people entirely (which this author thinks was a mistake and I agree with him). |
No, I didn’t watch all the videos. The few clips I saw were quite disturbing so turned it off. You may well be right about that. Just saying he seems to note good relationships with his parents and a bunch of siblings in that letter- which may or may not be true. If it is, you’d hope at least one of those people would’ve intervened. |
The mother of Robert Westman used to work at the school. |
I overheard it on the street
A mass tragedy'd occurred I didn't know how to react I had to know the latest word If it had been a hijacked airplane My resolve it would be steeled Another Ryder Truck explosion And I'd pray all would be healed Or an extremist with a knife I would go out and donate blood But I knew just what I should do When I saw that they'd used a gun I got on Facebook, status update Started typing like the breeze Cuz it's the perfect chance to Advance my political beliefs Yes in the face of acts of terror I won't be dyed in the wool Unless the weapon had a Tiny little metal thing you pull Cuz there's no time to come together Express sorrow for the sad When people have a right to own something I don't want them to have So if a crime scene's still roped off We could unify in sorrow Or ask was it with a gun And in a place not called Chicago You could plug all your beliefs Until your face is turning red Or you could also just respond the way You would have if instead it was a plane, a bomb, a Ryder truck A vest, or with a knife if they were drowned, or hung Or thrown from buildings, buried/burned alive If they were kidnapped by the hundreds Sold to slavery with vigor I'd respond with unity but if The weapon had a trigger I would-- I overheard it on the street A mass tragedy'd ensued When I saw it was an immigrant I knew what i should do... |
Yes, it is sick to demonize any particular group of people (I suppose in this case you are pointing the finger at this kid's peers, other boys who don't conform to gender stereotypes) in the wake of a school shooting. Probably have defunded this type of research but it's interesting - Public Mass Shootings: Database Amasses Details of a Half Century of U.S. Mass Shootings with Firearms, Generating Psychosocial Histories (https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/public-mass-shootings-database-amasses-details-half-century-us-mass-shootings) |
What’s wrong giving social media to your kids? |
Don’t know, mine don’t have it. |
I have read that and blaming Reagan is fine but its ancient history at this point. I am more interested in fixing the mistake. And it seems like every time money is allocated toward mental health it ends up in the wrong pockets and not helping anyone. Re-open the hospitals. You can use empty malls, I don't care. |
For whatever reason, the conversation around guns and preventing mass shootings rarely drill down to this: there were warning signs, so what needs to change for parents/doctors/schools/etc. to take action? What systems need to be in place? What can/should concerned people who fear their loved ones/coworkers/classmates/patients might go on a rampage actually do? ^^^ Focus on that. At a minimum I think we can find consensus on both sides to prevent these people from accessing weapons. Start there. The all or nothing rhetoric doesn’t work. Focus on the low hanging fruit: people with obvious issues who can’t be trusted with a weapon. |
I just watched his video with all of the MMO and guns. We haven’t watched it, his bed is covered in guns and clips. They have Russian words and English words written on them. He has a notebook with a sketch of the church and he whispers kill them.
He has a poster on his door with target and a picture of Jesus with the thorny crown. The video gave me chills. |
His mother was a woke “Catholic”. |
I agree but these same people also can't be trusted with an SUV, or knives, or explosives. They need supervision. |
Are you equating feminine little boys who like ballet with this hulking, utterly masculine monster and others like him? They have nothing in common and you should be ashamed. |
I'm sure Trump will Lock Up the Lunatics! |