Posted on 10/13/2015 6:06:08 AM PDT by KeyLargo
You jumpeth to conclusions, FRiend.
I made no excuse. I stated the facts as I have known them, starting in 2012 when Johnson’s extremely erratic behavior first became public and I knew people close to the situation.
I don’t know how long he had been mentally ill. It’s doubtful that he would have been able to graduate from high school and achieve the athletic success that he did if he were that ill and untreated.
But herein lies the problem: under our current privacy laws, once an individual reaches that 18th birthday (like Johnson did in 2012), families no longer have any say whatsoever in treatment. My theory — and it’s just that — is that once away from home, he quit the meds and went bonkers. And he’s been going downhill ever since.
Many college freshmen flame out, but it’s usually because they can’t manage their time, party too hard, or fail to do their laundry. Johnson’s problems were apparently much more serious.
A “mental condition” is not an excuse, but rather an explanation. And failing to accept treatment for a dangerous disorder is certainly no excuse and, in my book, makes the perp that much more culpable.
We need to wake up and accept that the insane walk among us and are dangerous. Current law ties the hands of those closest to them. Look at how crazy the Arizona, Colorado, Sandy Hook, etc. etc. shooters were. It’s not about guns (or machetes, or bombs, etc.), it’s about somehow pre-emptively getting these people off the streets before they do harm.
And about some way to keep the mentally ill from killing, no matter race, creed, or weapon.
Shame on them bringing Manziel into this.
“So you see some excuse in his mental condition.”
Yes, a few on this thread are all in with excusing and apologizing about the poor deprived man being disturbed.
Is FR being taken over by libs now?
“And about some way to keep the mentally ill from killing, no matter race, creed, or weapon.”
I believe almost ALL of these mass shootings by mentally ill people, arise from situations where other family members KNEW the person was severely ill and potentially very dangerous.
But we don’t have the mindset to turn our own family members in to authorities. Consider the Connecticut mother. Buying guns for the kid.
Anyway I think “mentally ill” people control needs more attention.
In my state there is a 72 hour lockup, under certain conditions called: “danger to self or others.””
Yet there is a more/less permanent societal danger if these people walk free and have easy access to weapons.
Roid rage?
Or is that too 80’s?
There is no excuse for the mother of the Connecticut (or Oregon) shooters providing guns when they know their son is mentally disturbed. (We removed weapons, but also knew that a vehicle is a weapon to one willing to use it.)
And I completely agree with your statement that in all of these incidents other family members knew the person was severely ill and potentially very dangerous.
Having been one of those family members, I can assure you that it’s much harder than you might think to get mental health treatment for someone who doesn’t want it. It literally takes a court order, obtained after having to prove that the subject is a danger to himself or others. An articulate but dangerous patient can convince a judge it’s just a family matter — actually happened to us during one attempted committment.
Even if the judge issues the order, the individual is contained and treated but released as soon as he is once again deemed safe. That is generally a short time, days or a few weeks. A patient who won’t take his meds is soon unstable and dangerous again, and the process repeats.
Been there, done that. All the while, the family members are scared for their own lives as well as for what the patient may do to others.
Fortunately, our situation never resulted in violence, but every time some violent crime is committed by a Johnson, Loughner, etc., I know that, but for the grace of God, that could be us.
Within the past year, he committed burglary and received probation, not prison, for doing so. He then violated the terms of his probation but somehow was not taken into custody for that. He should have been in PRISON, period!!!
From A&M star to White Rock Trail killer, receiver spiraled through madness
Thanks for the link, DrewsDad. Confirms much of what I’ve heard since 2012. So sad for everyone involved.
Thanks for the link, DrewsDad. Confirms much of what I’ve heard since 2012. So sad for everyone involved.
Horrible news....
Patti Stevens, widow of slain White Rock runner, killed self, authorities say
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