Ten Rampages by Mentally Ill People Who Bought Guns ...

[spin]

Ten Rampages by Mentally Ill People Who Bought Guns That Can Teach Lawmakers What to do Next
By Ray Stern, Wed., Jan. 12 2011 @ 5:30PM

The deadly mass shooting in Tucson on Saturday was by no means the first to raise questions about how a mentally ill person was able to buy a firearm.


Seung Hui Cho slipped through a loophole in Virginia law when he bought his gun. Lawmakers in that state fixed the problem.

In some cases, state or federal authorities took steps to limit such tragedies. In others, questions about the ease with which some mental patients bought weapons went unanswered.

Here, we examine 10 incidents that share similarities with the Tucson massacre, and look at the way the public and lawmakers reacted to them. One trend revealed is the evolution of laws and background checks that have resulted in fewer lunatics buying weapons -- and probably fewer tragic shooting sprees.


John Hinckley's attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan ushered in the era of background checks for gun purchases
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2011/01/ten_rampages_by_mentally_ill_p.php

[AtheistCrusader]

1. I am all for keeping guns out of the hands of the deranged.

Moreover, the deranged need access to mental health care. Better for them, better for society.

[spin]

2. I definitely agree with your statement. (n/t)

[Glassunion]

4. I agree as well...

P.S. Congrats to your Steelers beating my Jets...

I've been on this planet for over 35 years now, and they can never seem to make it past this point... I've said it 35 times and I'll say it for the 36th: "There is always next year"...

How many more years before I can feel like a Red Sox fan prior to 2004?

[spin]

5. The Jets played a great second half ...

they made a valiant effort and damn near won.

You definitely can be proud of the Jets.

[Glassunion]

7. I am...

But, now I get to root for another team... The Steelers.

I grew up a Jets fan and always will be. But, here I am, living in PA, and I for the life of me cannot root for the Eagles. Maybe because I had a beer bottle(plastic) thrown at me during a Giants v. Eagles game for not being enthusiastic enough for the Eagles.

P.S. the Giants won that game in the last 1:20 of regulation... Tee hee...

[rrneck]

3. + 1000. nt

[Euromutt]

6. There's an interesting article linked to in the last paragraph

"Arizona's Surprisingly Good Mental Health Laws Might Have Prevented Tragedy"
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2011/01/arizonas_mental_health_law_mig.php

The guy interviewed asserts that Arizona's laws on mental health might have impeded Loughner's ability to purchase firearms provided somebody--e.g. at Pima Community College--had made use of them and reported him to the proper authorities, who then could have conducted an "involuntary evaluation" of him. Whether that would actually have resulted in Loughner being prohibited from acquiring a firearm is an open question as it depends on too many unknown variables, but the point is that laws that could have made it possible already existed.