Category: Safe Haven
I live in Illinois and obviously have heard all about the northern illinois university shootings. Today we find out the gunman was in a psychiatric facility for a year. My feeling he definitely had a right to live a normal life and do the best he could with it but should never have had possession of a gun. question is: Since we have a data base for criminals why can't we have a data base for folks that have had long-term psychiatric care so at least they cannot possess a gun? It must be tough for kids to feel safe any more on a college campus. But surprisingly I shake my head in amazement when I think of the bad area I went to work in every day for 9 years and thought nothing of it just said I was blessed to have a typing job and earned good money. Sorry for the long post but had to have this stuff said.
I agree with you. There should definitely be a data base of such people so that guns won't legally wind up in their hands. Unfortunately, there's nothing anyone can do to stop illegal ownership. As for students going to college, I think it's very sad when you can't even feel safe on your own campus. Equally so is the plight of the children in elementary schools and such who have to go through medal dectors. What really saddesn me, though, is the fact that these children actually think this is normal. Says something about the real loss of innocence today.
I totally agree. I know a girl who has a class in the building where the shooting occurred. Even though she wasn't hurt, the impact it's had on her is huge. Something really needs to be done. The sad thing is, that probably won't happen.
Before I post this, let me start by saying that I don't know the answer. We walk a dangerous tightrope on the issue of government collecting data. The government already collects data on various individuals as a way to safeguard the population such as STD's. Do I think we need to have a better system in place after Virginia Tech and now Illinois? Yes. The question I have is where will it stop? I agree with post 2 also, in that, if someone is determined to procure firearms legally or not, it will be hard to stop them.
Lou
I agree. It seems you can get anything illegally if you want it bad enough especially with the internet out there. I thought the sixties I grew up in was turbulent but it was not as violent as this and it is well-stated that the loss of innocence has happened. Sad that young people have to deal with all this. Being young and blind was tough for me so I can imagine what it is for those growing up now. Anyway, as blind folks all we can do is be careful and hope for the best for ourselves and help others as best as we can by listening and caring.
This is why I say, "always be nice to people, especially the ones that seem crazy." Seriously though, one never knows who's having that extreemly bad day. I always try to talk to the people just around and behind me. In a crisis, they just might be the ones to help me out.