“A Danger to Himself”
That’s what everyone’s favorite mass-murderer, Cho Seung-Hui, was declared by a Virginia judge. He was taken to a mental health facility, where he underwent psychiatric evalutation and was released, doctors recommending that he continue to get outpatient treatment.
But then he was able to purchase a firearm? Therein lies reason one that this incident may not warrant changes to gun laws. If we keep people who have a history of mental illness from legally purchasing weapons, it becomes more difficult for them to get one to commit mass-murder.
But was there more that police could have done? Was there more the University could have done? When he was later reported, due to his violent stories, to the police, did they have some leeway to recommend that he again be brought before a judge who could have ordered him to undergo another psychiatric evaluation? Was there something the University’s housing system could have done to make sure he was getting help? Were there policies in place that would have kept this young man from making the choices he did, and more importantly, saving the lives of all those who died?
These are the kinds of things I would like to see come out in whatever investigations are pending. While I am sure no blame will be tossed around by those organized to investigate, hindsight is 20/20. Let’s be sure to take advantage of that.
For more information, check out this article from CNN.
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