[Vision2020] that Jared guy and mental health

[Dan Carscallen]

A couple things, and I'm by no means an expert:

I have purchased handguns, shotguns, and rifles.  All were reported to the
ATF.  They are registered to me with the feds. Or, at least, I would assume
the paperwork I filled out, with all kinds of federal language on it, would
speak to that.  I don't know the exact paperwork, as it's been almost a year
since I last bought something.  I do know they'll call you back to the store
if you just put an "S" instead of "South" when you live on South Cleveland .
. . oh yeah, and you have to put "Street" as well.

As far as an AK47 and the purchase of such at a gun show, I can't say that
I've ever seen one for sale, and you can't buy a full automatic one
anywhere, not legally anyway, or at least not with a lot of paperwork, and a
lot of time.  Of course, I've never had the inclination to purchase one, so
I can't really speak from experience.  I wouldn't mind owning an AR-15, but
I don't have that kind of jingle, so I've never pursued it.

But, the gun part of the equation wasn't my point.  

Yes, something has to be done, but that something is with regard to mental
health care.  Should this Laughner fellow been institutionalized when he was
discharged from the service?  Perhaps, but what about his civil rights, his
freedom?  Maybe the military shouldn't just discharge someone when they
start acting up.  Perhaps they should have some sort of program to help
diagnose these folks and help get them on an even keel, rather than what
seems like just cutting their losses and kicking them to the curb.  Maybe
they do offer such programs, but they could very well be voluntary. I don't
know, I wasn't in the military.  Like I said, I'm no expert.

Unless someone has actually committed a crime, I don't think they can be,
uh, committed to some sort of treatment program.  Maybe during one of his
prior "run-ins with the law" someone should have noticed something.  But, of
course, the system is bogged down, departments are understaffed, people are
underpaid, and folks fall through the cracks.  

I guess, in short, we need to work on sealing the cracks.

Your pal

DC


-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Hansen [mailto:thansen at moscow.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 8:06 AM
To: Dan Carscallen; 'vision 2020'
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] that Jared guy and mental health

I see what your sayin', Area Man.

But, how, in THE HELL was Laughner sold a gun.  The guy has a
well-publicized history loaded with red flags.

He was discharged from the service after being diagnosed with "behavioral
issues".  He has had run-ins with the law.

Yet, he was sold a gun.  He killed six people and maimed one for life.

Do you realize that if I were to purchase more than two handguns, my
purchases would be reported to ATF (and rightfully so).  HOwver, if I were
to purchase more than one rifle, my purchases are not reported to anybody.
 Heck, in Idaho rifles are not required to be registered.  I can legally
purchase ten (or 20 or 30 or 40 or . . . ) AK-47 assault rifles at a gun
show here in Idaho and my purchases would not have too be reported to
anybody.  Heck, I wouldn't even have to register any of them.

Something HAS GOT TO BE DONE!

Thoughts?

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho






On Fri, January 28, 2011 7:47 am, Dan Carscallen wrote:
> Vizzz peeps,
>
>
>
> We live in a free society.  One of the prices we pay for living here 
> is that there are some loonballs running around who could snap at any 
> minute.
> Should they be?  Probably not, but who is to say when and how these 
> folks should be rounded up and treated?  Sure, I think all of us can 
> talk about the guy in our neighborhood that seems a little sketchy, 
> but what are we supposed to do?  Call the cops and have them haul him 
> in because he doesn't fit society's norm?  I think there are a lot of 
> folks, right here on the
> Vizzz even, that don't necessarily follow the "norm".   But we go along
> and
> live our lives in our free society.
>
>
>
> The media talked to this Jared guy's neighbors, and they said "yes, he 
> seemed like a nutjob", but what were they to do?  They watched him, 
> kept their distance, stayed as vigilant as they could.  Unfortunately, 
> he "slipped through the cracks".  Should he have been prevented from 
> buying a pistol?  Maybe, but in a free society, how?  He wasn't a 
> convicted felon, he answered all the questions properly, and he paid 
> his money.  It's not a speedy process, no matter who or where you are.  
> Even with a concealed weapon permit, and a pre-checked background, 
> it's not quick by any means.
>
>
>
> This can't be blamed on rhetoric, nor on extremists from either side 
> of the aisle.  The blame lays solely on a sick man who obviously needs 
> help.
> And,
> perhaps, the "blame" lays on the freedom we enjoy by being citizens of 
> the United States of America.
>
>
>
> Your pal
>
>
>
> DC
>
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