...pot would've likely dulled the feelings of persecution....
One thing that I hope results from this tragedy is a change in the college classrooms. I just saw an interview with Linda Sorensen, who was a classmate of Jared's this last summer. She was frightened of him from day one and sat by a window with her purse in her hand ready to escape if he became a threat and she has emails to friends describing her fear that he would show up with a gun and kill everybody. Jared was kicked out of class on the first day but returned for a couple more weeks before he was finally removed permanently from the class. I know from another interview on CNN.com that he was able to return again in the Fall and disrupt more classes before he was finally expelled with a requirement that he get counseling.
As a professor, I find that our colleges/universities are increasingly held prisoner by students with mental health problems. Here is a recent article that describes the issue:
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpps/hea...h-college-students-dpgoh-20101221-fc_11160158 excerpt:
But 44 percent in (college) counseling have severe psychological disorders, up from 16 percent in 2000, and 24 percent are on psychiatric medication, up from 17 percent a decade ago.
The most common disorders today: depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, alcohol abuse, attention disorders, self-injury and eating disorders, the study reported.
Every college professor that I know has stories about students who are disruptive in class and have no business being there. Many professors have been threatened and intimidated. Many college students have stories about classmates who frighten them. The college's have their hands ties because the student has paid for the courses and, therefore, has the right to attend. Even if the student is failing the class and has no chance to pass, I cannot prevent him/her from continuing to attend.
I commend Pima College for acting relatively quickly (it could have been faster) and for requiring Loughner to get counseling and demonstrate his mental health competence before returning to their campus. All colleges should follow suit.
I hope I don't come across cold, BUT............I don't care if he is mentally ill, all I care about is making him stand trail and then execute him. All killer's have something wrong with them. In a perfect world, he would have taken his own life, sparing the victim's a trial!
My point is when we start saying people that have never been convicted of a crime, no involuntary committed.....so when do we decide who should have children and who shouldn't!
My husband has a front lobe injury, with his medication's he does well but without them yes he could be violent, and because his behavior is odd sometime's, people get nervous with him!
This shooting is so near to my heart, it is almost like reliving what happened to us....I don't want to give the shooter any rights but in the same breath, I want to protect the right to own a gun!
Whew! The grin is creepy. But his eyes are absolutely terrifying. {{{shiver}}}
Yikes - I usually don't comment on a person's mug shot, but that photo is frightening! He has a big grin on his face!
I don't want to appear unsympathetic to your husband; I certainly support his right to do other things, whether or not he makes people "nervous." But I don't see why it is worth the risk for him to have a gun.
I only caught the tail end of the news this afternoon, but I could've swore that they reported that Loughner had not been granted bail and his attorney was the same attorney who was used in the Oklahoma City bomber case....anyone know if this is correct, or did I totally mishear it?
The whole mugshot gave me shivers too...what a total creep. The grin on his face makes me extremely angry.
I don't mean to be rude or make fun at all, but that mug shot is sooooo Jack Nickelson. Not sure if it is more of Cuckoos Nest or The Shining....but it has that look in the eyes.
jmo
Whew! The grin is creepy. But his eyes are absolutely terrifying. {{{shiver}}}
I only caught the tail end of the news this afternoon, but I could've swore that they reported that Loughner had not been granted bail and his attorney was the same attorney who was used in the Oklahoma City bomber case....anyone know if this is correct, or did I totally mishear it?
are his eyebrows shaved off?