General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

91. I realize I have no idea what the mother was

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 01:29 PM

Dec 2012

thinking, keeping the guns and ammo around, but I'm going to speculate that despite all of the mass shootings that happen with sickening regularity in this country, she simply made no connection between guns and her son. Never ever in a million years considered the possibility that he might gain access to the guns and do something with them. As if such a thing never happens.

While this is on a very different level, think of all the times that a child gets hold of a family gun and "accidentally" shoots someone, often fatally. I put the word accidentally in quotes because every single time the public reaction is that what happened was a totally unforeseen tragedy. No. When guns are so readily available, such things will happen. And happen again.

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Everybody talks gun control, but nobody talks about increasing funding for mental health services [View all] tawadi Dec 2012 OP

Or changing the culture of stigmatization against getting help for one's self or family when it Brickbat Dec 2012 #1

All of the above tawadi Dec 2012 #3

I got my head bitten off earlier for suggesting family notice the shooter needed help. we can do it Dec 2012 #9

His brother had mentioned several diagnoses (Aspergers, TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #25

Thanks for filling me in. Just wondering why she had the guns knowing about his problems. we can do it Dec 2012 #33

Aspergers isn't a personality disorder Robyn66 Dec 2012 #84

Thank you Robyn janlyn Dec 2012 #95

Yes you are extrodinary! Robyn66 Dec 2012 #110

Never even heard the word "Aspergers" in any of the news sources I read. Only "Personality Disorder" tawadi Dec 2012 #99

I have heard different news reports mixing the two Robyn66 Dec 2012 #108

I've heard it a couple of times, rather stupidly used synonymously with "personality disorder." (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #116

No, I know that--I have a relative with Aspergers. I thought this TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #100

Its too bad how these things can get mixed up Robyn66 Dec 2012 #109

The gun control only crew are way too upset to discuss this calmly. marble falls Dec 2012 #86

All very good. AverageJoe90 Dec 2012 #11

+1,000,000 Auggie Dec 2012 #47

+1,000,000 shireen Dec 2012 #82

In this case, this kid didn't need funding for mental health services-- TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #2

Somewhere along the line, he didn't get the help he needed tawadi Dec 2012 #7

He got help. But in a mental health crisis, it's pretty important TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #35

I really cannot comprehend this tawadi Dec 2012 #44

I realize I have no idea what the mother was SheilaT Dec 2012 #91

You bring up a good point--surely they watched the tragedies TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #106

you think its so easy to get help for a young adult? you cannot force the police to take them bettyellen Dec 2012 #51

I didn't say that. I said it's crucial not to allow them to have TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #105

and your totally right about that. Just saying access doesn't mean he would willingly accept bettyellen Dec 2012 #107

I understand--I am going through similar issues in my TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #111

If you aren't using Nami as a resource, it's worth a looksee. bettyellen Dec 2012 #112

Thanks--I just looked at their website this week and found it TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #113

wonderful. i wish you all the strength and luck you'll need for this task. bettyellen Dec 2012 #118

Yes, and making the point above about treestar Dec 2012 #83

I think nobody wants their kid to have a "mark" against them TwilightGardener Dec 2012 #101

That's another thing, we need to quit seeing such things treestar Dec 2012 #120

Yep. Denial of mental health issues, or fearing them as a black mark, are both Bad Things. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #117

I'm quite sure that most people understand we need both alcibiades_mystery Dec 2012 #4

Answer me this tawadi Dec 2012 #12

A law preventing her from owning multiple ridiculous guns of that kind certainly could have alcibiades_mystery Dec 2012 #26

Don't you think it's late for that, in our country? tawadi Dec 2012 #28

No alcibiades_mystery Dec 2012 #30

The right to bear arms & all that tawadi Dec 2012 #37

That would be ideal alcibiades_mystery Dec 2012 #40

I hope you're right. I hope gun laws can and would save lives. tawadi Dec 2012 #43

All problems run deeper alcibiades_mystery Dec 2012 #45

+1000, alcibiades_mystery! tex-wyo-dem Dec 2012 #79

I think you are looking too technically at the role of law primavera Dec 2012 #89

+1 and +1 ... eom Kolesar Dec 2012 #13

Inpatient services are currently bare bones status. FarPoint Dec 2012 #5

Even some of wealthy can't keep a troubled teen in an institution when its needed. tawadi Dec 2012 #8

Exactly! AverageJoe90 Dec 2012 #6

You may be a big fan of GTA, but you can hardly argue against the idea whathehell Dec 2012 #60

The weaponeers seem to be running with this "mental health and antidepressants" meme lately Kolesar Dec 2012 #10

Weaponeers? tawadi Dec 2012 #15

We had a two year debate on mental-health care coverage that ended with Obamacare Kolesar Dec 2012 #23

I don't know what the answer is tawadi Dec 2012 #31

My husband had to beg a psychiatrist on the phone to get an appointment liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #92

that isn't what I said...eom Kolesar Dec 2012 #97

The RWers have been blaming violent video games, too. AverageJoe90 Dec 2012 #16

seriously what are the odds??? dembotoz Dec 2012 #14

Or stop playing GTA or CounterStrike. n/t AverageJoe90 Dec 2012 #17

So sad. But true. tawadi Dec 2012 #18

You have to want help.....to get help. cbdo2007 Dec 2012 #19

I thought there were laws about "if a person is a danger to himself or others"? tawadi Dec 2012 #21

only at the time of danger, the episode passes and you're back to square one bettyellen Dec 2012 #55

Don't know that. Thanks. eom tawadi Dec 2012 #70

you have to get the consent of the mentally ill which is difficult to do when its full blown bettyellen Dec 2012 #103

i think in my state (ny) you have to have 2 family members and a doctor ejpoeta Dec 2012 #58

Sad tawadi Dec 2012 #68

Yeah.....go to Walmart today and make a list of all the people who are a danger to themselves cbdo2007 Dec 2012 #85

That's when caring family members and friends step up. HappyMe Dec 2012 #42

We "stepped up" and for our efforts got a stack of restraining orders Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2012 #53

Then that situation and it's HappyMe Dec 2012 #57

Good, so now it's the family member's fault they didn't get help for their sick cbdo2007 Dec 2012 #90

You also have to be able to get help to get help. Posteritatis Dec 2012 #114

I agree. How about for starters we take the subsidies Lifelong Protester Dec 2012 #20

As a school administrator, let me ask you a question tawadi Dec 2012 #24

at school, you can only do so much Lifelong Protester Dec 2012 #50

This is one of many problems. The "it takes a village" concept can't happen tawadi Dec 2012 #67

Right, we get it drummed into our heads as educators Lifelong Protester Dec 2012 #73

Agree, but this family had access to the best riverwalker Dec 2012 #22

Like I said above, even the wealthy can't afford to institutionalize some children. eom tawadi Dec 2012 #27

It isn't a question of affording it, Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2012 #49

I don't think the problem is strictly the ability to afford personal care FedUpWithIt All Dec 2012 #52

What access they had and how it might be funded is irrelevant Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2012 #59

+1 nt Live and Learn Dec 2012 #93

Agreed. HappyMe Dec 2012 #29

More may come out about the shooter's childhood tawadi Dec 2012 #32

Another very strong argument for nationalizing healthcare. Lizzie Poppet Dec 2012 #34

It will probably never happen in this country tawadi Dec 2012 #36

I expect the nation to fragment long before something like nationalized healthcare happens. Lizzie Poppet Dec 2012 #39

a problem with mental illness is that there is no physical manifestation dembotoz Dec 2012 #38

Don't you think people saw the warning signs? tawadi Dec 2012 #41

Maybe they saw HappyMe Dec 2012 #46

Until you can lock someone up and force treatment it is a moot point Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2012 #48

And he's clearly synonymous with the entire spread of mental illnesses, right? Oy. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #115

He was synonymous with those who are completely unhinged and violent Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2012 #119

So tax the gunpowder and use the revenue for emntal health services RomneyLies Dec 2012 #54

Yeah? So? Zoeisright Dec 2012 #56

We could stop locking up perfectly peaceful marijuana and other drug users and use those funds FarCenter Dec 2012 #61

Sometimes I can't tell if this DU or Free Republic rbrnmw Dec 2012 #62

It isn't a deflection, it is a separate issue Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2012 #63

Sometimes issues are tied together. HappyMe Dec 2012 #66

Mental Hospital dave502d2 Dec 2012 #64

Welcome to DU! hrmjustin Dec 2012 #65

I am. n/t Fearless Dec 2012 #69

$$$$- how much does the NRA raise vs. MH advocates? underpants Dec 2012 #71

I share your face palm, both issues arthritisR_US Dec 2012 #72

has anything come out about the type of medications he was on? Celebration Dec 2012 #74

LMSP kicking...n/t littlemissmartypants Dec 2012 #75

This message was self-deleted by its author caraher Dec 2012 #76

Canard, misdirection, dishonest red herring and simply not true. geckosfeet Dec 2012 #77

As the story unfolds I suspect we will hear about this being a case of a young man who,... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2012 #78

I agree that may be the bigger problem here treestar Dec 2012 #80

THANK YOU shireen Dec 2012 #81

Nobody talks about increasing funding for mental health services AndyA Dec 2012 #87

+1 nt Live and Learn Dec 2012 #94

well said mettamega Dec 2012 #88

On the contrary: coalition_unwilling Dec 2012 #96

Obviously, there is no silver bullet in this matter. xxxsdesdexxx Dec 2012 #98

I agree AldoLeopold Dec 2012 #102

Well, John2 Dec 2012 #104