Posted on 01/12/2011 12:06:03 PM PST by Libloather
Why Wasn't Loughner's Mental Health Evaluated?
Despite many red flags, he was never evaluated
Updated: Tuesday, 11 Jan 2011, 6:50 PM MST
TUCSON - As the legal case against Jared Loughner makes its way through the court system, the question is: could anything have been done to prevent the attack? Does anyone bear responsibility for failing to stop him?
Pima Community College asked Jared Loughner to leave and not come back until his parents could show he was getting help with his mental health needs. That did not happen.
An expert on mental health law in Arizona wishes the school had taken a different approach.
It was no secret to people who knew Jared Loughner. His classmates say he was troubled. His odd behavior at Pima Community College drew the attention of campus police.
Under Arizona law, the school could have sought an involuntary psychiatric evaluation for Loughner, but didn't.
"Had they chosen to file an application for an involuntary application, that would have triggered a process to evaluate him to the mental health system, rather than to the community college system," says Charles Arnold, a mental health attorney.
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxphoenix.com ...
A: Laziness.
Like just about every other person in the world, they just did not want the hassle.
Not really.
That is like saying that the drunk driver is the only person responsible for a fatal accident after the local sheriff saw him stagger to his car outside the bar and drive away without the sheriff doing a thing about it.
Now you know why Sheriff Dupnik is so eager to blame Rush Limbaugh for the shooting.
“...file an application for an ‘involuntary psychiatric evaluation’...”
-
I wonder if I can do this in Georgia?
I should go ahead and start my list;
it will include a few family members, and lot of co-workers.
Did a little research, apparently there was someone in the Safeway in Tucson who was carryng, ran toward the gunfire, but it was over when he got there. I don’t have a solid link for that yet.
Exactly. Too Big Brother-ish. Parents knew he was wacko but he was legally an adult though they could have forced him in for evaluation. But again, much responsibility likewise falls back to Sheriff Wingnut for not following up on the dozens of complaints against him.
do we really want this to be easy for the government to do to just anyone? (political enemies, gun permit ccw applicants, conservatives...)
There is the "who pays for it?" question. Did Loughner have insurance?
There is the nobody wants to commit a paranoid nut to the hospital because he may seek revenge on them when he gets out. Family members, and friends are often aware of someone needing help. Sometimes they fear if that person "writes them off", they will no longer be able to help him, or insulate him from the outside world.
One of my paranoid schizophrenic patients tried to attack his Mom with a chain saw. She called police. At that point, law enforcement sought the committment, leaving the family off the hook.
I think that with mental illness, just like with alcoholism, or substance abuse, families become enablers.
veterans...
One young man who was interviewed was armed and had his hand on his gun as he ran to the scene to stop the shooter if he had succeeded in reloading and continuing to go at the rate he started out. As it was, I think he was able to help hold the shooter down until the law got there. - If you aren’t armed and someone starts shooting, run! and zigzag as you run! A moving target is harder to hit. What a choice! If I did carry, I’d end up shooting myself in the foot. :o(
A lot of it is that the kids today have a lot more time to submerge themselves in fantasy video games, all sorts of nutty movies and books, things like that. Back in the day when kids had to share in helping the family put food on the table, kids didn’t have all this time to contemplate their linty belly buttons; a favorite leftist occupation.
1st, I do not believe that the school sent a letter addressed to his parents.
That would have been a breach of privacy re. the school records of an adult student.
I do believe that they sent it to his house, which was, of course, his parent’s.
2nd, as far as committing him, give me a break.
There are probably several tenured professors just as crazy, albeit, less violent, teaching there.
Or political cronyism, protecting the families of their own.
-PJ
This morning on NPR the effete elite were already on the air saying guns do NOT get used in defense. They want to prevent the armed citizens could have ended this very fast facts from comming out.
This crazy person would have been examined, passed and gone on his way.
We would have to have all of the staff and personalities of MSNBC examined...
lol Practice, practice, practice! Get into IPSC, IDPA, even pins or speed plates. All will build your confidence so that when it drops in the pot, you won’t think of how to draw, acquire, and squeeze, your muscles will know how. At least that’s my theory. Besides, it’s fun and you meet nice people.
I also think that if you are carrying a gun and have an inkling of what to do with it, you are much more likely to move toward the commotion and gunfire, since you’ll know you have a chance at doing something positive to stop it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.