The elephant with a gun in the room...

[elehhhhna]

Seems that alsmost everyone who came in close cotact with the shooter predicted that he was mentaly ill and potentially dangerous.

WHen is proper access to mental health services going to be discussed in the MSMS? As in the Amish school shootings there is much gnashing of teeth and "Why? Why? Why?" but no debate about accessable, affordable, non-stigmatizing mental health assistance.

[Lester222]

1. Its a good thing Cho didn't get free mental health care...

...after all, he was a foreigner and thus shouldn't be a burden to the white american taxpayer

[unpossibles]

13. I am asuming you're joking

but then again, looking at your profile, maybe you're not.

[Lester222]

17. ;-) Forgot to add the smilieface...

...actually I think my most probable cause of death is an anger related heart attack from reading the freeper page....

need to update that profile :eyes:

[unpossibles]

18. sorry. I too am a smartass and have been accused if it helps

I think it's because big events seem to bring out the ... in everyone.

Again, I apologize. If it helps, I did think you were joking.

[johnnie]

2. From what I read

Cho was on medication and was referred to the school counseling program but refused. What can ya do?

[Virginia Dare]

3. Threaten to expel him unless he does?...n/t

[Horse with no Name]

7. Ding Ding Ding

We have a winner.

[johnnie]

9. Good idea

I don't know if that would have stopped him from hurting other people though, but it could be a start.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. Is that an expellable offense?

Refusing to take the advice of a school counsellor to get medical attention? If a school tried that, DU would be up in arms over students' rights. And rightly so.

[zanne]

4. One of the reasons I wanted Gore to win in 2000...

His wife, Tipper, has experience with major depression and often spoke of the stigma attached to mental illness. She would have been an incredible spokeswoman for the mentally ill.

[Horse with no Name]

5. That is where this discussion needs to be focused

You don't hear anyone say "He was such a nice, quiet boy"...all you hear is "That boy was batshit crazy"....then the feigned shock that he would do such a thing.
Newsflash to folks...There are many people out there capable of doing this walking the street unmedicated.
Personally, equipping all of the colleges with security won't help the problem.
We need mental health services readily available at no charge to families AND patients if they cannot afford it.
Can we talk about Reagan throwing all of the mentally ill in the street? This is yet ANOTHER Republican monster that they have created.

[zanne]

10. That, combined with loose gun control laws...

It's a recipe for disaster. If I read one more post that begins with "I own guns and I've never used them to commit a crime", I'll scream. You just don't know what life experience might put you over the edge, especially if you become mentally ill or even drunk!

[napi21]

6. I've read that this young man was asked to go to counceling, but

refused, and the school, or anyone else, has no authority to demand anyone attend counceling or treatment if they haven't committed a crime. If they refuse, they have the right to do so.

You're right, as a society, we do need affordable access to mental health treatment everywhere, butin the case of the VT shooter, that doess not appear to be the problem!

[Jim__]

12. I think the question is ...

... at what point as a society do we have the power to demand that someone receive counselling, even though they haven't yet committed a crime. It's dangerous stuff. But, given that one of his professors repeatedly went to the police about the danger posed by this person, I think it's dangerous stuff that we need to deal with. We don't have to let a time-bomb walk around in society until it explodes. Identifying the time bombs is difficult and dangerous, but we need to address it.

[Possumpoint]

8. Careful Of What You Wish For

There is the law of unintended consequences. Once you establish the thought police who sets the standards and how much enforcement do you give them? I'm not trying to say nothing could be done but I don't want a system set up that you can turn in anyone you disagree with.

[Virginia Dare]

11. Agreed,

I think in this case there were enough people who were worried about his behavior, where it would have been justified to force him into counseling or face expulsion. I'm sure that will be looked into.

[napi21]

16. I agree! The concernof the professors that this young man had

a mental problem was generated by the stories he wrote for English class. I was talking to my husband last night about that. What do you suppose these same professors would have said about the writings of Steven King? I'm sure there were other exhibited actions that cause concern, but I think we as a society should VERY careful not to respond to this terrible incident with a kneejerk reaction that we will be very sorry for later.

[elehhhhna]

19. Were his parents contacted about his problem/s?

I would hope so...but rather doubt it. Confidetiality etc.

[porphyrian]

14. No one wants to fund it.

Health care is generally only slightly more important to politicians than education when it comes to putting tax dollars into it, which means it doesn't get funded. And mental health is the red-headed step child of health care.

People need to wake the fuck up.

[elehhhhna]

20. Cripes! He'd set fire to a dorm AND took upskirt shots of female classmates!

Whadduz a guy have to do to be expelled?

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