Anybody want to move to South Africa?
R0bert,
Save your money going there because the way we're going we'll have it here before long.

The recent murder/suicide of a mother and her infants at Heidelberg in Victoria underlines a fact that is already known but is quickly lost where politics and lobby groups are involved as in the present US case, which is the parlous state of mental health services in most countries and certainly the US and Australia.

Proactivity and prevention are possible and lives will be saved, but not in societies that shy away from providing resources and facilities for mental health.

Evidence is now leaking out that authorities in the US (and specifically the local sheriff who was quick to volunteer his opinion that it was all down to 'hate' political campaigning) had been aware for some time of the mental state of the offender, but were most likely very limited in what they could do.

The same applied in the case of Martin Bryant (Port Arthur) where treating medical staff and police had been aware of his various problems but nothing could be done, a situation not assisted by the sale of mental health facilities by both LNP and Labor governments in the years before.

In Australia, John Howard blew a cool billion dollars on redundant 'gun control' regulations and a buy-back of unwanted guns from law-abiding citizens (as if criminals would give up their already illegal guns), which helped him win an election but swept mental health issues under the carpet (neat one, JWH!).

Few would criticise the licensing of gun owners, although in the US case it would appear that the Sheriff's office has slipped in not previously recording and reporting the offender to ensure he could not obtain a gun from a legal source. Of course he could still have bought the same on the black market or used other even more devastating alternatives, such as petrol.

Here is hoping that the debate moves rapidly away from the usual political argy bargy and blame game in order that the gaps (chasms) in mental health services can be surfaced and discussed. Of course politicians and bureaucrats will be most reluctant to do that and for obvious reasons.

Guns don't kill people

People with guns kill people

Keep guns from people

Guns don't kill people

People with guns kill people

Keep guns from people
Shintaro,
Not that simple. People who kill people are either just bad or defend themselves against bad people. No good person does any harm to another good person. Bad people cause harm to others. There are many people who should have stopped giving others a hard time & they could still be around. Law states that self-defence is not a valid reason to carry a gun. Tell that to the many bodyguards & the wild pigs in the bush. What would our defence force defend us with if self defence is no valid reason to carry a gun ? When's the last time you heard of a good person do bad ? Knives are used to kill & maim. So, keep knives from people ? Cars, trains, hell, even work kills people. What about bad bureaucrats who drive decent people to suicide ? Keep bureaucrats away from people ? YES PLEASE !

Individual is channelling Sara Palin rather well with the enthusiasm for gun toting citizens.

What a shock!

What a Shock !
The Blue Cross,
I can tell you that exposing your mentality is not a shock at all. Thinking OLOers expect that from you.