Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Limits to Law and Information Sharing, Despite Gunman’s Danger Signs
This article discusses the flaws in the system which allowed the UCSB shooter to buy three handguns despite previous violence and mental instability. Rodger had been reported by his parents who were worried about his violent behavior, had been investigated by the police after trying to push a woman of a ledge at a local bar, and posted disturbing videos on the internet. Yet he was able to, without any trouble, but three guns and ammunition. Even if people think that we should have the right to own guns, I can't imagine why so many citizens and legislators also argue against safeguards to stop mentally ill people from buying guns. With every one of these attacks the need for a better mental health care system becomes more and more apparent.
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I think that the most troubling part about the entire situation is that the police checked up on him at his mother's request, but they found nothing wrong with Rodger. Te police actually ensured his worried mother that he was just fine. After shootings, everyone looks for red flags or signs that could've been picked up by those around him. His mother did see the signs, and it was law enforcement that was unable to see them. In one of his diaries Rodger mentions that if the police had just searched his residence, they would've found weapons and documents with specific details of the "Day of Retribution." I can't imagine how those officers feel today.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Annamarie's comment that we need a better mental health system in this country. I think that the main reason for our overly lax gun control policies is the powerful lobbies, like the NRA. I would also agree with Josh that the police officers who ignored the warning signs have got to be feeling pretty horrible. I would even take it a step further and say that anyone who ignored the warning signs including teachers and other family members probably also feel horrible. I think that often times in this country we just brush aside the possibility of mental illness, and then we are surprised when we have tragedies like this.
ReplyDeleteThe article brings forward an interesting point about how warning signs for an attack are almost always there, but rarely come to the attention of the authorities. Psychologist Dr. Fein said that when looking back on these events, "there are generally people who have information, but they don't know what to do with it." The difference between that observation and the UCSB shooter is that his parents did see the warning signs and did bring them to the authorities. This is kind of a scary thought that the people who probably knew Mr. Rodger best tried their best to inform people, and yet the shooting still happened. This is why I definitely agree with Anna about the need for a better mental health system.
ReplyDeleteI think that it's been clear since Sandy Hook that we need safeguards to prevent mentally ill people from buying guns and ammunition. People always want to argue that "guns don't kill people; people kill people," but this tragedies would be prevented if mentally ill people did not have such easy access to get guns. I agree with Michaela and Josh that ignoring the warning signs is also a crucial issue, but stricter gun regulations are the only way to prevent more tragedies like this from happening. People are clearly protective of their Second Amendment rights, but if your child was killed in a shooting like USCB or Sandy Hook, I think you would want stricter gun regulations as well.
ReplyDeleteMass shootings have become all too common in the United States these past few years. It is especially tragic when events such as this occur which could have been prevented. Since he was showing signs of having violent thoughts, enough that his own mother called the police, he should not have been allowed to buy a gun. I don't see how even large pro-gun lobbying groups such as the NRA can be against legislation to prevent mentally ill people from purchasing guns and ammunition.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything Anna said in the introduction. This is obviously a serious problem. I like that she related it to health care because I think that is a really big part of mass shootings. I think people who need help should be able to get it. I believe there should be stricter rules regarding who can buy a gun. What normal person needs three guns? Maybe safety training should be mandatory to get a gun.
ReplyDeleteIt is very disturbing to hear how easy it is for previously violent people to buy guns in our country. Although the constitution grants us all the right to bear arms, it is foolish to not have any restrictions on this right. In almost all the major, nationally covered shootings the shooter was said to have shown mental instability or some sort of sign foreshadowing their upcoming behavior. Right now it is too easy for people who are mentally unstable to buy guns. In my opinion, gun reform is absolutely neccessary.
ReplyDeleteLike Anna and a lot of the other students said, it makes me uneasy to know it is so easy for an emotionally unstable person to have access to hand guns. In my opinion, this probably could've been prevented, or at least not been as extreme. There were obvious signs that this young man may have been planning something. I heard about this before reading the article, but the article makes it even worse to me. I think gun reform is definitely necessary to prevent tragedies such as this.
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