Gun Control!
Our government leaders, any many others, would have us believe that putting the kibosh to the 2nd Amendment is the answer to rampant violence in the United States, particularly in the wake of recent shootings where innocent children and adult citizens have been killed. It would seem that way.
But it’s really not the answer. If stronger gun control measures were in place, it would have had no effect on the twenty children and seven adults who were killed in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14th of this year. The mother’s guns were legal and the shooter purchased no weapons himself. Perhaps the guns should have been better secured, but that’s hindsight. We’ll learn more down the road.
If we lived in a strict fascist government and the 2nd Amendment was repealed whereby no citizens were allowed to purchase and own firearms, it might make a difference, but then we would be living in a state-controlled society reminiscent of WWII Germany and Communist China. That also opens the floodgates to other freedoms we hold so dear.
The 2nd Amendment is here to stay. Just like the freedoms of speech, assembly and religion, there are guidelines, rules and regulations for protecting people and maintaining order. Perhaps we could do better with firearms without infringing on the right to bear arms. That’s up for debate.
As I see it, the problem with these mass public shootings is threefold:
- The easy accessibility to firearms by disturbed individuals
- Glamorizing extreme violence via motion pictures and video games
- A poor system for dealing with mental illness inAmerica.
In my opinion, number 3 – mental health treatment/system deficiencies, is the major problem.
I could relate numerous examples of people I’ve known who were seriously mentally unbalanced whereby little help was available to family members other than medication and strict supervision. It has also struck my life on a personal level.
I know of a vaudeville comic in the late 1930’s who became a serious schizophrenic, imagining enemies everywhere. His wife finally called the men with the white coats and had him safely institutionalized. He died two years later. That was then. It can’t happen today.
The school massacre in Newtown,Connecticut is sure to raise political and public safety issues in which gun control will be top the list. But when we learned of the psychotic condition of mass killers like Seung-Hui Cho (Virginia Tech), James Holmes (Aurora, Colorado) and Jared Loughner (Tucson, Arizona) it’s obvious they were greatly disturbed and should have been treated and/or institutionalized long before they acquired guns. People closest to them certainly knew they were mad, but were powerless to do anything.
Most of the multiple shootings that have occurred in America since Columbine were committed by young adults with severe mental illness. That includes the Newtown school murders. Such tragedies have the stamp of schizophrenia or symptoms of mental depravity. People closest to the killers were witness to out-of-touch behavior, but nothing could be done until crimes were committed. Then it was too late. In some cases, psychiatrists prescribe medication but that’s only workable if a patient voluntarily complies.
In the last fifty years, jails and prisons have morphed into the sole processing and holding institution for the severe mentally ill. According to most recent statistics, 10 to 24 percent of prison inmates suffer from mental illness. In days of yore, mental health laws allowed for close family members and/or three citizens to sign someone into a mental health facility for evaluation or commitment. Such facilities were plentiful in the 1950’s and 60’s, until medication was developed as a substitute for in-house treatment. Mental health institutions were phased out leaving care and treatment to the jails, after crimes were committed.
Florida’s Baker Act is only a temporary measure which allows a spouse or family member to be placed into evaluation for 72 hours and then released.
One of my first jobs in plain clothes was to investigate applicants for gun permits. That entailed working the streets and personally interviewing employers, neighbors, family and friends. If applicants had ever displayed bizarre behavior or habitually abused alcohol or drugs, permits were denied. That was effective, but non-existent any more. Budget cuts and other crime priorities removed this function from police departments and have relegated background investigations to a simple FBI computer check. Applicants without a documented criminal record are awarded permits.
Signs of schizophrenia usually emerge in the late teens and early twenties. Victims are generally detached and avoid social circles, often suffering from delusions and hallucinations.
According to current mental health statistics, about two million Americans suffer from schizophrenia. That doesn’t appear on any gun check when making a purchase, unless they’ve been arrested. Plenty of crazy people are at liberty to purchase guns at will, because there is no record of their mental health. That is a problem that can be changed.
Before knee-jerking into the gun control arena, states should reevaluate their laws and systems for identifying and treating people with severe mental illness before violent crimes are committed.
That schizophrenic vaudeville comic never hurt anyone, including himself, or me, thanks to an effective mental health system which was available to my mother in 1939.
There Is Nothing More Frightening… for the “liberal-or-nothing” thought-patterns of a tortured soul like Pamela Jarvis… than the liberated mind of a former democrat that
discovers that his former political party has changed so radically that he must forever
forego “party-lable loyalties”… declare a preferred system of Independent thought &
analysis, and pursue the values expressed in the Preamble to The U.S. Constitution.
“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and provide for the common defense, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.
My 5th Grade Teacher..Ms Gray,. offered our class this gift, so many decades ago!
IF my detractors would take the effort to memorize these brief, immortal words, and apply them faithfully to future discussions, they would have an easier time in reaching a logical, and more rational conclusion. – reb
http://www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com
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Hi there Ralphy: No tortured mind here……sorry to disappoint. I do find it hard to believe however, that your own mind is “liberated”. (Word comes from “liberal” … did you know?) Anyhow…..The ideas expressed by the last two apparent “liberals” on this blog make a lot of sense to me. We do have a violent society. Just watched a repeat on television of “Bowling for Columbine” and was reminded of just how much more violent a nation we have become since that film was produced. Good luck with trying to blame it on the “liberals” Ralph…..you seem to be stuck in a rut with your so-called independent radical views that have nothing to do with the Constitution. It is you that needs to have a little humility and a greater sense of decency regarding the world and your country’s future.
I will pray to whatever Gods there are that enlightenment will descend on us all…..and we’ll find a way to make things better.
Anonymous Pamela Jarvis – That’s a common, generic, garden variety name isn’t it?
A name without an identity, origin, profile or location. Hmm. It’s best to ignore it.
reb
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REB…She is real, her name is actually real. She is just a believer in the socialist way, unfortunately. For the sake of argument, I think she has a good heart, and is good intentioned. Scratch the surface, and we look for the same things, but getting there in a very different way, for sure.
An anonymous source told me that her H.S. grad photo shows one very attractive person of the female persuasion. I cannot reveal my sources, under penalty of dismemberment or worse.
Also, I do not believe she is any of the kooks who write with their pseudoyms. Those people scare me, because of their utter disregard for the standards we set in this nation for being able to face ones accuser. Writing from behind a tree using a phony name is beyond low. Our Pam
has far more backbone than those cowards. Another kudo for her, in my humble opinion.
CHRIS-JAY – Thanks for the Info… but I know it’s her real name…and I’m also aware of her location, just wanted to see if she’d be open with me. She’s a ‘party-label-loyalist’ that enjoys playing word-games, and usually…. I just don’t have the time for this foolishness. My wife has health problems, and I do the cooking & cleaning, plus my computer work.
Example: Today, my researching has finally uncovered a solid connection between
a visit here in Oak Ridge of a “moderate imam” in Sept, 2010 …..whose “base of operation” is… Georgetown University… the oldest Jesuit School in the USA (hello)) And our local newspaper The Oak Ridger had a headline — > ‘WE DON’T DO HATRED HERE’ with a photo of – - Imam Yahya Hendi – - at a candlelite vigil with his friend –United Methodist Reverand Steve Martin, and Universalist Pastor Jake Morrell.
These two pious rascals invited the IMAM here, to preach “peace & love”… and how these Sheeple…”can build Bridges to Understanding…. WITH ISLAM (Ouch!!!)
Also, still connecting the dots… I found that this Yahya person is no slouch… I now have a photo of him shaking hands with…. George W. Bush… and another photo of
Imam Yahya Hendi presenting a Gift to President Bill Clinton… in the Oval Office !!!
(Chris Jay: It might be better if you re-read these words… to get the full impact)
>>
Now, you’ll recall when I wrote that Barry Obama’s Harvard Law Degree (1988-1991) was funded by Mega Billionaire HRH Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal… well, this generous Saudi also gave $20 Million to Georgetown U… and anoher $20 Million to Harvard Law !!! ( Now, here’s the Grande Finalee)
I found a connection between… Moderate Imam Yahya Hendi (of Georgetown U) and
His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talah… and here’s the LINK!
>>
http://imamyahyahendi.com/current-events.html
>>
(Chris: You let me know if you can’t find it. ~~~ Merry Christmas! – reb)
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Chilling words and a chilling thoughts for sure.
Hope y’all up there in Oak Ridge have a wonderful Christmas, even thought that is not exactly on the topic here.
C J
C.J. – Yes, I’ve purposely tried, after a week of horror in the Mass Shootings, and the 26 victims… and 60, 70 and now 80 speculative comments, & haunting innocent faces
on our Tv screens, where the liberal minds are now busy Assaulting 2nd Amendment
Privilege… It’s up to us, to keep our weapons… or to lose them!
>>
My Secret Weapon is a Search Engine, I find shock information unavailable
elsewhere. I get phone calls… Some like it — Some do not. — To each his own.
i have the photos, plus the articles if any friends would like copies, and provide a stamp and p.o. box number, I’ll send it…. After the holidays. – reb
http://www.lazyonebenn@hotmail.com
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Didn’t work? Try this:
~~ > lazyonebenn@hotmail.com
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Apologies to Marshall Frank —
Here’s Another Off-topic Shocker… that some might enjoy, on Jimmy Carter’s
questionable motives relating to ISRAEL… Our only friend in the middle east,
and expressed by a prominent Liberal Democratic Lawyer, Allen Dershowitz!
See ~~ > ISRAEL HAYOM – Sunday, December 23, 2012
Subject: Jimmy Carter and Saudi Money
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=3083
reb
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In spite of the political differences of the folks who contribute to this blog, let’s hope those differences can be put aside for the next couple of days, as we celebrate the reason for the Christmas season. Whether you are a believer or not, this time of the year is usually a magical time for most – and I hope it is for you and yours.
Take a moment to do something we call a “random act of kindness”. It will give you an idea of what Christmas means, if you forgot. Evil is everywhere, but so is kindness, generosity and goodness.
C J
HO – Ho – ho -ho!
Mele kalikimaka hau’ole makahiki hou… to all kani and wahini here
on Marshall’s fine website. As long as you can accentuate the positives,
in a mostly negative world… you are an exceptional person, a real winner!
>>
HO – Ho – ho – Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! – reb
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