It is bad enough to say Loughner is a victim of a health care system which ignores mental illness, but he is not the only victim. Congresswoman Giffords and the other people shot on Saturday are also victims of the same uncaring health care system. If Arizona had adequately funded health care for the mentally ill, Loughner would have been treated or institutionalized until sane.
Rather than fund health care, the Arizona legislature is spending millions of dollars defending the law which makes them famous, SB 1070, the most vicious anti-immigrant law in the state's history. A national boycott is costing the state billions. Rather than fund health care on a national basis, the Republican Senate Caucus enacted a “No Vote Pact” in which they refused to vote on any issues including the START Treaty to reduce nuclear proliferation until Democrats conceded to give every millionaire a $139,000 unfunded tax cut. With their pockets stuffed full of taxpayer money, the Republicans vow to repeal health care for the poor.
Shortly, Congresswoman Giffords and all of us will become victims one more time. Despite surely suffering extreme mental illness, Loughner will likely be judged mentally ill, but with enough capacity to know right from wrong. The Court will distinguish between mental illness and insanity. Rather than get treatment in a mental institution, Loughner will spend his life on death row. The message to other mentally ill people is, don’t reveal yourself, because you won’t get treated and your acts will be judged harshly. The mentally ill remain in the closet for a reason and that makes every one of us the next potential victim.
Article comments
1 - Nancy
Insane? The guy DID show up at the Wallmart, which was probably advertised. With a gun. Technically, first degree muder. If nothing else, this guy does need to be off the streets - also held accountable.
2 - Jerry
The writer states: "The message to other mentally ill people is, don’t reveal yourself, because you won’t get treated and your acts will be judged harshly".
The shooter was already revealed - had been for years. He like other seriously mentally ill persons, especially dangerous ones, are marked by those around them.
I do agree that it is incumbent upon us, especially family members, to be proactive in helping such persons if there is any indication that they may harm themselves or others.
3 - Bill
I believe this man was also Jewish and attended the same Synagogue as Giffords..
Research it.
They were friends on a few internet social sites.
Lamestream media (Controlled0 drops the ball, again.
4 - tim paynter
Unfortunately, this is an example of people who don't understand mental illness. When we say people are insane it does not mean they are sitting in a wheel chair slobbering down their cheeks and stewing in thier pants. Rather, insanity usually refers to people who function, so they can find a Wallmart, but who are having delusional thoughts, hearing voices, marching to a different drummer who not only is different, he does not even exist!
When people are unable to distinguish reality from paranoid thoughts then reasonable people don't generally consider them to be responsible for their actions. We don't hold three year olds responsible when they don't understand what is going on around them.
Sad to say, due to complete ignorance about mental health, we do hold people who are stark raving mad responsible. If you really want to get a better handle on what I am talking about volunteer in a mental asylum. But then, since mental illness is considered an abomination under God, you might think twice. They could mistake you for being just a kooky as the true in mates. Thanks for your comments, but do a little more research.
5 - Alexandria Jackson
Nice article. One point, though. A person who was insane at the time of the offense must have the mental capacity to plead the insanity defense. A fun little catch in the system. So he has to be on his meds and "clear" by the time of the hearing. In some states, this can mean years of delaying a hearing trying to get the person clear and is not "right to a speedy trial" at all. He will stay in limbo for a long time - unless political pressure forces them to declare him competent to stand trial. This would be such a shame. He is clearly very, very sick.