Is the solution to have the mentally ill police themselves?

SSG Edward Tilton — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:33:43 -0500

Response by SPC Mike Lake made Feb 15 at 2018 8:36 PM

SPC Mike Lake — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:36:39 -0500

Wow that's really genius of them...smh

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 15 at 2018 9:05 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 21:05:21 -0500

I suggest you get these people on the line and sort it out with them. Ain't nobody gonna be happy.

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/mental-health-rights

Mental Health Rights

Mental Health Rights People living with mental health conditions are people. They have people they love, activities they enjoy, and dreams for their lives. As people, they deserve to be treated with dignity, and under the law they have rights and protections.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Feb 16 at 2018 1:31 AM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 01:31:42 -0500

I don't mean to insult you, but I seriously have no idea how you could even ask this.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2018 3:37 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:37:42 -0500

Mental issues does not equal suspension of Constitutionally guaranteed rights.
In order to have it be the case, the individual must:
A. Be a felon or
B. Demonstrate homicidal ideation and have this information reported to the background check folks in your state.

Additional criteria may apply in a given state, but these two are fairly universal.
Unfortunately, most of the freaks and goons that shoot up schools and other public places have either not been convicted of a felony, have been convicted but figure out how to get a gun and ammo anyway, or do not seek treatment from a mental health professional.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Feb 16 at 2018 6:20 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 18:20:50 -0500

When people begin talking about "mentally ill" I believe that everyone has this worst-case scenario schizophrenic character in their head; not all people with mental illnesses are dangerous. In the case of the serious, unmedicated schizophrenic, they are unable to "police" themselves, as you so eloquently put it. The thing about being crazy in that way is that, if unmedicated, they usually don't know that they are delusional; that is kind of what makes it crazy. That being said, there isn't a whole lot that can be done that is not being done.
Now, there are plenty of "mentally ill" individuals that are no more dangerous than the everyday Joe. I am a diagnosed manic bipolar. I'm not a danger to anyone (except under certain circumstances in which I would hope that any rational human being would be violent in order to protect themselves and or others). What kind of "policing" do you believe that a person like me requires? Plenty of mass murderers in the past decade have been diagnosed bipolar; should I be locked up? Maybe I shouldn't be allowed certain places? How about just take away my right to own firearms? By the way, I do own firearms.
The thing is that I do what I am supposed to do. I go to my therapy when I need to, I seek out the counsel of friends when I need to, and I take my medications when I need to. Because a few people out of the tens of thousands of people who suffer from some kind of mental/emotional/behavioral issue does not mean that there needs to suddenly be some kind of policy to come down in order to wrangle in our behavior. Society could do a better job of taking care of those that need extra help, but, aside from that, there is nothing more that needs to be done or can be done for that matter.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Feb 16 at 2018 7:53 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 19:53:21 -0500

No, but do we lock them up again, and let them go through state mental health institutions?

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Feb 16 at 2018 8:13 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 20:13:01 -0500

Suddenly something hit me across the head. When I was 17 I had been expelled from the Philadelphia School System (not an easy task). I neither had or wanted a job, I was a thug just like this turd in Florida. . I was given an ultimatum, get a job or go in the Army. I adapted
to the Structured Environment and by the time I was his age I was an E-5 with a wife and son. I don't know if there is any hidden meaning and I am not excusing him. Do I take the road on the left or the road on the right

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Feb 17 at 2018 5:59 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 17:59:10 -0500

Once upon a time I worked at a VA Hospital in California. One of my officers dragged in a "veteran" who had decided that bringing his AR-15 to group was a good idea. I guess they were having show and tell. The "patient" had a prior history of violence and the weapon was a violation of the Assault Weapons Ban. SLAM DUNK EH,
Neither the FBI or the ATF had time to deal with it. I could see the writing on the wall and quickly turned his weapon over to SFPD for disposal. Sure a poo, they came in with this nutjob wanting me to return it to him. I explained that it was gone, disposed of. I imagine Psychiatry reimbursed him. A law is only a law if it is enforced. Otherwise it is just one more pile to step over.