Virginia Tech

[Calypso]

I know we've all been watching the news and thinking about it, so I wanted to start a thread: What are your thoughts on the tragedy at Virginia Tech? Do you think these crimes could have been prevented, or was it beyond anyone's control? Did anybody screw up, or did all parites involved do their best? So many questions...and my heart goes out to the people who lost families is the massacre.

[vicki2]

I do not blame gun laws in this case. I blame all of us because he's a kid who fell through the cracks. Yes, some people seemed to try but they didn't follow up either. He was a walking time bomb.

[tater03]

I feel for everyone involved in this tradgedy. I agree this person fell through the cracks. There just needs to be something in place where all this information goes to one place or something. It just seems like everyone knew bits and pieces but noone had the whole picture.

[vicki2]

As I keep listening to commentary about it, it also had to do with rules and regulations on state schools ...they really couldn't report him more than they did or divulge information about him. It's yet again that hazy line that you step across to help someone you 'think' has problems, and if they end up being okay, you were nosy.

[tater03]

You're right it is a hazy line but after seeing all the things on TV about this kid it is just so obvious that something needed to be done. I know hindsight is 20/20 but I sure hope that something can be done to help the people that truely need help in a more timely manner.

[vicki2]

I think in some ways we've become cowardly in dealing with sick people. We have so many laws in place to protect them that we dare not step up and say 'this person is sick and needs help'. YOu get laughed at or sued.

[Calypso]

It is a hazy line. When does an individual's right to self-determination start to cross the line of society's right to protect itself from danger? I have a hard time with forcing people to take meds--I'm bipolar myself and know how terrible the side effects of some medication can be. I would hate it if a judge stepped in and told me I had to take it even if it made me nauseous, a walking zombie, etc. But at the same time, no matter how manic or depressed I get, I'm not threatening to hurt anyone. Hard, hard call. I don't have any good answers.

[vicki2]

Well, hopefully, you have family or doctors who would step in if they saw you shifting in a direction of violence. Would they?

[tater03]

See that right there is the problem. I agree that it should be your choice on whether to take the medication or not but if you were to become dangerous to others then that is a whole different ballgame.

[vicki2]

Between malpractice suits against doctors, and civil suits against people who do try to get involved, we have almost shackled ourselves against being able to do anything. When I remember back to the Columbine shooters and how the parents had no idea what were in their kids' rooms or what they were doing, you scratch your head.