In no way does this excuse what Barnes is believed to have done. But in some sense this tragedy appears to be collateral damage from the Iraq war.
I agree no excuse and that one
proximate causal factor was PTSD from Iraq; another is a lack of mechanism or process for family members and friends to ensure a troubled family member gets proper treatment--our society doesn't even have a way to keep seriously mentally ill people off the streets to protect them and the public.
But what is the
ultimate cause? Did the perp have a congenital personality disorder? Does the fact that our society has become increasingly militaristic, glorifies both societal and individual violence as a way of dealing with conflict, frustrating situations, and lack of personal accomplishment? Just list the blockbusters--Dirty Harry, Rambo, Die Hard and all the thrillers and horror flicks used to titillate the most base of all impulses. A society where the most sacrosanct of constitutional rights is the right to bear arms and the developed country with the most arms in private possession (including Switzerland where every adult male is issued a weapon, Sweden, too, I believe)? What about the society that is stressing individuality at the expense of communality and social obligations? What about our country having the most alcohol-abusing, drug-using, self-medicating population on Earth and the most fundamentally religious population among the developed countries.
Oh yeah, gun rights advocates/hunters/veterans, etc.--I've been there, done that, and have my own collection ...
My most sincere condolences to Margaret's family, friends, and coworkers and to the public she served.
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Edited by Marcus -- removed the picture.
