I was going to do a funny piece about mince pies today, but I just can't do it. My heart is still too heavy about 20 precious little angels taken from us so senselessly.
People are talking about gun control and of course I'm all for that, but the real problem is that we have no safety net for the mentally ill in this country. Too many parents live, as this mother did, with a son who shows increasingly anti-social and violent behavior and has nowhere to turn until he hurts someone--then the only answer is jail.
This is not how a civilized society behaves. We need intervention, treatment centers and health insurance options that cover mental illness and don't bankrupt a family. Let's hope some good comes out of this. Let's hope that it opens a dialog about mental health, about gun contol and we finally DO SOMETHING positive!
Yes, we desperately need resources for the mentally ill and their families. We won't be able to do it for free, either.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up, we had mental hospitals for the mentally ill.
ReplyDeleteThe Supreme Court said we had to close them down. We can't hold people against their will unless they prove a menace to society.
Proving that is nigh impossible. My neighbor's son, who had been in and out of mental institutions, shot and killed his mother at age 17 because he thought mom was a space alien. In the 911 call you can hear her say, " put the gun down. Thad, put the gun down," then the call went silent.
This is not going to be a joyous season. We are all heavy of heart. Maybe we should be.
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