Posted 8:28 pm Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Send to Kindle
SHOOTING RESPONSE, December 26
Constitutional rights must be governed by common sense. Freedom of expression does not give the right to falsely yell “fire” in a crowded theater. In like manner, the right to bear arms does not include ownership of Army tanks or atomic weapons. Reasonable regulation is necessary. Let’s talk common sense and not repeat clichés when discussing semi-automatic assault weapons with large capacity clips. Also, the argument that gun ownership is necessary so we can start an armed rebellion against our own government is unpatriotic indefensible.
I heard that the shooter at Newtown became aware that his mother was petitioning to have him committed. Years ago, I represented a friend whose wife was informed by her psychiatrist that he intended to have her nurse’s license revoked and have her committed. However, he did not follow through with his threat and never told her family. I had the opportunity to read her reaction to this in journal entries where she reasoned that she must take her own life and the life of her child so that neither of them would be left to suffer. Their child was murdered by her own mother while watching cartoons, waiting to go to school. Possibly we need to create a universal procedure for immediate follow-up when announcing intent to commit those who are mentally unstable.
Blake Bailey
Tyler
I heard that the shooter at Newtown became aware that his mother was petitioning to have him committed. Years ago, I represented a friend whose wife was informed by her psychiatrist that he intended to have her nurse’s license revoked and have her committed. However, he did not follow through with his threat and never told her family. I had the opportunity to read her reaction to this in journal entries where she reasoned that she must take her own life and the life of her child so that neither of them would be left to suffer. Their child was murdered by her own mother while watching cartoons, waiting to go to school. Possibly we need to create a universal procedure for immediate follow-up when announcing intent to commit those who are mentally unstable.
Blake Bailey
Tyler
