Aaron Alexis - another case of psychological problems

[FarCenter]

Alexis had been treated multiple times for psychological issues — including sleep deprivation, anger and paranoia, sources told NBC News. Most recently, sources said, he had been treated at an unspecified VA Hospital in New England.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/16/20522196-at-least-12-killed-in-shooting-rampage-at-washington-navy-yard-chief-says

[rdharma]

1. With an AR-15........ nt

[FarCenter]

3. Not completely certain, but most reports are that he captured the AR-15 from an officer he shot

He apparently started out with a shotgun, and took the pistol and AR-15 from a guard and a policeman.

[riverwalker]

6. I heard he bought it in Virginia

it was his AR-15

[X_Digger]

7. The shotgun was bought in VA (according to the latest from MSNBC) n/t

[NYC_SKP]

4. Which would you rather have as a roomate?

I'll take the thing that doesn't have a crazy ass mind of it's own, I'll take the inanimate object that makes no decisions, doesn't get angry, and doesn't go around killing people.

[rdharma]

16. Does that gun hugger "Rosie O'Donnell's spoon" argument......

..... still work for you? Really?

No...... I'm not blaming the inanimate object. I'm blaming the easy access to that efficient killing machine though lax regulation.

[NYC_SKP]

17. There you go. We agree. You should read my posts more often.

I've said that over and over and over again.

I find you to be pretty reasonable but a few others are a bit OTT in their use of rhetoric.

Yeah, hell yeah, it should be way tougher to have and keep a firearm!



I don't BTW get the Rosie thing.

[rdharma]

25. No thanks! nt

[NYC_SKP]

26. All these responses to me and you aren't reading my posts?

Well that's just wacky!

[darkangel218]

2. And how come someone so deeply disturbed is getting a high security clearence??

That's the fucking question.

Someone needs to be held acountable for this.

[Duckhunter935]

5. You do not always need a clearance

Depends on your job. Another case where mental problems show up and I bet it was not entered in the current NICS database. This needs to be fixed.

[FarCenter]

8. He was working for a Hewlett-Packard private contractor - had a security clearance.

4) He was working for a Hewlett-Packard private contractor.


According to Alexis’s father, Algernon, his son was studying and working in a computer job for a private firm in Washington, D.C. On Monday evening, Hewlett-Packard said he was employed by a subcontractor called The Experts, which “refreshes equipment used on the Navy Marine Corps Intranet networks.” Though it originally appeared Alexis wouldn’t have had access to the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command, the secure building where the shooting occurred, the company confirmed Alexis had security clearance, which had been updated in July. “Discharge from the military does not automatically disqualify a person from getting a job as a military contractor or a security clearance. It depends on what the circumstances are,” said CEO Thomas Hoshko.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/16/up-to-speed-5-things-to-know-about-navy-yard-shooter-aaron-alexis.html

[Duckhunter935]

10. thanks

They need to ensure mental health data is included in the NICS system

[NuclearDem]

9. From what I remember, working with DOD requires at least a Secret level clearance.

[Duckhunter935]

11. I know

Department of army does not. Not cost effective to do check on hundreds of thousands that do not require it. Time and resource hog to do all of those investigations.

[NuclearDem]

13. Fair enough. My experience is with the AF, which does require Secret level.

[rdharma]

15. Believe it or not..... you can work in a position "pending" a needed security clearance.

That may even be the reason this guy went berserk. Maybe he failed his final background check. Had a clear record as active duty in the Navy..... then his civilian record caught up with him.

[rdharma]

20. A "secret" security clearance is nothing!

It just means you have never been convicted of a crime.

I had a way higher security clearance and obtained my security investigation records through the FOIA.

The investigators had questioned my parents' neighbors about me. They gave me a glowing approval (which I deserved). Problem is.... I never lived next door to them at any time, they knew nothing about me, and they never met me. They were talking about my brother....thinking they were referring to me!

If you've ever had a high security investigation done on you, I would encourage you to get a record of that investigation through the Freedom of Information Act.

You will be amazed!

[enough]

12. Thanks for saying this. All day today, I have had a close family member in mind,

thinking thank heaven she is not in a culture where guns are a means of expression, because I could easily imagine her rage combined with bipolar turning into a tragedy for many people other than herself, if she should ever happen to pick up a gun at the wrong time.

[RetroLounge]

14. With a gun! Remember the gun???

RL

[Robb]

18. What gun? He used a GUN??

I thought he killed all those people with a swimming pool!

Well, hell. Off to the Gungeon with this thread!No point talking about it any more!

[cthulu2016]

21. I have psychological problems. Alexis was deranged.

He told police a month earlier that someone had put a chip in his head. He seems have have been treated y the VA for, among other things, hearing voices.

It appears that he was suffering from a profound mental illness that happens to have a high association with violence.

[rdharma]

22. And he had easy access to firearms....... nt

[FarCenter]

23. He should have had accommodations that did not include access to firearms

Or anything else with which he could hurt himself or others.

[rdharma]

24. "accommodations"?

And those are?