Posted by Mark H. on April 12, 2000, at 12:04:34
In reply to Guns and the mentally ill: disturbing article, posted by Abby on April 12, 2000, at 0:31:35
I also found this series of articles disturbing -- you might want to read my note to April above (Re:April/NYT Article on Rampage Killers).
Speaking just for myself, my wife and I decided to give up gun ownership about 12 years ago, when a person came into our house dead drunk in the middle of the night, mistook me for someone else, and tried to throw me out my own front door. My wife, used to living in the country, was loading her pistol. Both of us weeks later realized we'd rather be killed than kill, even in self-defense, so I bought Sue one of those electronic stun guns instead. She's never had occasion to use it. I wouldn't impose my beliefs on anyone else; it's a very personal decision.
The series was disturbing to me, I think, because the "experts" cited (except for Kay Jamison, who is selling her new book on suicide) all sounded so ill-informed, with no subjective understanding of the phenomenon at all.
I hope someone with far better understanding than I have can offer a more reasonable critique. The articles were a step in the right direction, but they seemed to add little to the hope of prevention and early help for people who are so desperately ill.
poster:Mark H.
thread:29693
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000411/msgs/29732.html