Elliot Rodgers: His Parents "Frantic Race To Stop the Killings"

[pnwmom]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/26/us/parents-nightmare-failed-race-to-stop-killings.html?hp

It was Friday evening when the parents of Elliot O. Rodger clicked open the 140-page manifesto emailed to them from their son and learned of his plans for mass murder and suicide. Frightened and alarmed, they called 911 and then raced to Isla Vista, Calif., in separate cars from Los Angeles, desperate to stop him.

SNIP

Only weeks earlier, in late April, deputies from the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office had stopped by Mr. Rodger’s apartment at the request of state mental health officials, acting on an expression of concern by his mother. They left after a calm and polite Mr. Rodger assured them that there was nothing to worry about. The officers reported that Mr. Rodger was shy and had told them that he was having difficulties in his social life.

That gave them little ground on which to act, under California law. Because Mr. Rodger was never institutionalized because of his emotional problems, he was able to legally purchase the weaponry he used in the shooting.

Sometime after the police visit, Mr. Rodger — who had already amassed a stockpile of weapons and ammunition in the apartment — added a note to his manifesto: “If they had demanded to search my room that would have ended everything. For a few horrible seconds I thought it was all over.”

SNIP

[riderinthestorm]

1. Parents of adult troubled children are helpless in these situations. They tried to alert authorities

They tried to get him psychiatric help.

[JJChambers]

2. The system is designed to allow the mentally ill to wander amongst us

Even when they're a danger to themselves and others.

There are two questions asked that determine if law enforcement can involuntarily hold someone for a mental evaluation. If the answers given are "no," their hands are tied.

1. Have you hurt yourself or anyone else?
2. Are you planning to hurt yourself or anyone else?