Jared Loughner is just "a lone nut"?

[Viperfreak2]

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

As far as Viper's comment about lesser threat situations, he mentioned a running from a knife. One would be shocked to see how quickly a knife can be deployed and how much more damage an edged weapon can do versus a gun. People generally don't miss with a thrust of a knife but a shot fired from a gun can easily miss its intended target.

The problem is that guys like Loughner never had that documented.

Scenario: I am being stabbed with a knife. You and your family are nearby and see it happen. What do you do? One dead, everyone else puts a good distance away.

I would dispute that it was never documented because so many people have already come out and said they were afraid of him in a school. I hope someone went to the front office and they documented the fears.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by Viperfreak2

Scenario: I am being stabbed with a knife. You and your family are nearby and see it happen. What do you do? One dead, everyone else puts a good distance away.

I would dispute that it was never documented because so many people have already come out and said they were afraid of him in a school. I hope someone went to the front office and they documented the fears.

Is the stabber done after killing you or is he on a rampage? If he's done with just you then I'll be a good witness and call 911. If he's still actively attacking people I would likely do what I could to stop him, provided anyone with me is safe. I have the means to intervene with lethal force if necessary. It is not my first choice of actions but if lives are at stake and I can deploy my firearm then that is certainly an option, and an option where a gun can save lives.

I agree that Loughner has a long history of people observing bizarre and scary behavior. Some were probably reported to someone. The problem is what happens with those reports? If a school employee or administrator is told by a student that another student is acting bizarre and even making threatening statements, what does that person do with it? Who do they report it to? What is done with the person reported? Can the person be committed based on that? You see where I'm coming from on this? That is the issue, not the guns.

The question about how someone with a mental health history can get a gun will no doubt be discussed. I think that is where we need to look for answers and solutions. It's part of a larger issue in society. How do we deal with people who are mentally ill?