[Mishmash] FOX News Video: Hero Professor

[Ingrid & Eric Holzman]

I have been listening to NPR quite a bit and the head of the security at the 
University of Wisconsin said that shutting down the University may not have 
helped.  Let us not forget that this was a student with a student badge.  He 
could just have said, "I need to get to class.  I'm late for class."  Also, 
there was nothing to indicate that more violence was going to erupt.  It was 
originally thought it was an isolated incident.  Based upon what they knew 
at the time, I think they did the best they could.  Hindsight is always 
20/20.

Another element to all of this is that this became a crime, but unlike the 
typical criminal, he didn't go out there with the intention of getting out 
alive.  This was a suicide.  A gentleman on NPR who has conducted studies on 
those who commit heinous acts on campuses mentioned that it's a mental 
health issue, not a crime issue.  All those who commit acts of violence like 
this and at Columbine, often have mental health records, not criminal 
records.

It's been reported, though not sure if it's true, that this individual was 
on some meds.  If that's true, then that is a component that needs to be 
taken into consideration whenever a gun is sold.  Are we screening 
individuals who purchase guns for any anti-depressant/anti-anxiety 
medications they may be prescribed?  I recognize this is a daunting task, 
particularly since many will not divulge this, but when these meds are 
taken, a red flag should be raised as to their mental health.  I almost hate 
to say this, but perhaps we need a national data base that allows those who 
sell guns to ascertain if the individual they are selling to is presently 
being prescribed a psychotropic medication.  I know this goes against the 
"right to privacy," but what about the rights of those who end up killed? 
How do we protect them?

Ingrid

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hugh Gigante" <hgigante at optonline.net>
To: "Mishmash" <mishmash at mishmash.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 5:08 AM
Subject: Re: [Mishmash] FOX News Video: Hero Professor


> From: "Robyne Kerr"
>
>> Working in a university we have training for this sort of thing but
>> really it comes down to the person on the spot at the time. I was
>> amazed that the whole campus wasn't shut down after the first
>> shooting.
>>
> So was I . . . but then you remember this is a small city (26,000 
> students)
> and realize shutting the whole place down is not a simple thing.
>
> I love the media on this one . . . hundreds of reporters out there working
> on their pulitzer or promotion . .  .especially like the gun control crap
> they push out . . . like this guy and other crimminals who don't obey laws
> now weill obey a new one!
>
> Hugh
>
>
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