Like the rest of us, we're concerned about the REAL problems behind crime, particularly the anomalous mass shootings like that in Sandy Hook, or instances where psychotic persons are in our communities.
I have a dear friend who came with me to our state's Rally yesterday. He is a recently retired crisis counselor with our county. I asked him what he thought about the ability of clear-case sociopaths and severe mentally ill persons slipping through the cracks of the NICS system. Here's what he had to say (the short version.)
When a person who is clearly unstable is intercepted by the police or the public, in order to be involuntarily committed, that person must go before a judge. Should that person be deemed a threat to himself or herself, or be recommended for involuntary commitment, the judge has to physically fill out a form and submit it to NICS.
They usually don't. One main reason, in the opinion of my friend, is that they are not educated about this fact.
So here's what you can do: Write to your local representatives and ask them to look into your state and county protocols for reporting these cases.
I know my friend plans to meet with our very anti-gun, but very pro-mental health state senator to be on a committee to make REAL, tangible change.
Like you, he and I are disgusted by the band-aid approach to fixing very real problems in our society.
I have a dear friend who came with me to our state's Rally yesterday. He is a recently retired crisis counselor with our county. I asked him what he thought about the ability of clear-case sociopaths and severe mentally ill persons slipping through the cracks of the NICS system. Here's what he had to say (the short version.)
When a person who is clearly unstable is intercepted by the police or the public, in order to be involuntarily committed, that person must go before a judge. Should that person be deemed a threat to himself or herself, or be recommended for involuntary commitment, the judge has to physically fill out a form and submit it to NICS.
They usually don't. One main reason, in the opinion of my friend, is that they are not educated about this fact.
So here's what you can do: Write to your local representatives and ask them to look into your state and county protocols for reporting these cases.
I know my friend plans to meet with our very anti-gun, but very pro-mental health state senator to be on a committee to make REAL, tangible change.
Like you, he and I are disgusted by the band-aid approach to fixing very real problems in our society.
