Shooting at high school in Parkland, Fla.

[plastroncafe]

Originally Posted by TurtleWA

Can you say more about this? I don’t understand.

Sure.
I've heard people say, "This guy must be crazy. Only a crazy person would go into a place and shoot a bunch of people."

But we literally pay people to do that, and we don't consider them crazy. Heck, often times we don't even consider them murderers.
They were just doing their jobs.

They were defending themselves. Or they were fighting for what they believed to be a just cause.

Originally Posted by joe-eyeball

I am actually curious as to what you believe that “common ground”would include?

I have no idea what that would entail, because I've yet to hear someone with any actual power or authority to make changes make a proposal.
There's only a circling of wagons.

Also “mental illness” is a bit of wide sweeping term. It’s certainly not limited to people that are just diagnosed with a mental illness! Your comment regarding military and police is kind of ridiculous! Again the majority of them are simply doing the job they were trained, instructed/ordered to do and for the most part the methods they employ are accepted by the community at large. I get that you’re trying to say a soldier may be committing horrible acts over in some other country but in his mind he or she is doing it for their country or following orders. Of course there are always exceptions and I’m fine with saying any soldier or member of law enforcement that flies off the handle and goes to far can and should be held accountable and if they are referred to as having a mental break or mental illness then so be it.

Mental illness isn't, nor should it be, a broad sweeping term.
It has a specific meaning that should be respected.

It's like saying every time someone sneezes they have the influenza.
Sure, flu-like symptoms are a common symptom...but every time someone has flu-like symptoms we don't treat them the same way we'd treat someone with the flu.

Misuse of language is unhelpful.

Just for the record I understand and believe that that most people with mental conditions never harm themselves or anyone else and that by using the term mentally ill in regards to these killers could cause harm to mentally ill people that pose absolutely no threat at all.

Then why do you persist in using it?

School Shootings, a play in one act.

"Hey we've got a fire over here. Someone want to do something about that?"
Let's add more fire.
"Maybe that's not the best idea? Let's try water. Maybe reduce the amount of fire instead?"
No more fire is better. It's great. You just can't see that it's great because you're irrational and have emotions. When you've calmed down, we can talk about maybe putting out the fire, but...in the meantime, as the only clear-headed person here...more fire it is.

And scene.