Killer Mails Letter, Photos, Video to NBC

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I think LOTS of people tried to help him, he just didn't want it.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

He was in treatment a few years ago and even then he was so shut off that the doctors couldn't get a good read on him. Obviously people were trying to help him the best they could with the info they had.

[Lady Brave]

The media is still not asking the right questions. What is VA's procedure on checking for mental health commitments for gun applicants? This guy was involuntarily committed. He would have been permanently denied a firearm for life if they had known about it when he applied for the gun. If they only rely on the honor system for people to disclose that information on the application, then that's what needs to change.

[Warpath]

Money, money, money, and ratings which equal money. NBC was probably so thrilled to recieve this package. I know they hyped the crap out of the fact that they were going to show off its contents. The media blows when things like this happen. They know that stories like these equal extremely high ratings which in turn equals money. Anyone notice that NBC (Dateline) was in Blacksburg live by 6pm? They knew this was a big story. I think that for the families and victims, the media should have to refrain from doing exactly what the idiot wanted, show off his packet of crap. From here on if any news program that I am watching is talking about this, Im turning the channel.

[dmek25]

i agree with Malcolm. there is a ton of help available to anyone that WANTS it

[hesscl34]

I do blame insurance companies and the metnal health system for not committing him to a treatment program for a longer period of time.... Someone had to take responsibility for him. He was too sick to take care of himself. However, it's really a no win situation because once you get treatment and you feel ok the docs let you go and it's up to you to keep taking your meds..etc. Most don't, and then when they get sick again they are worse than before. Our Mental Health system in this country is pathetic. Insurance only covers up to a 5 day stay in a hospital unless the person has hurt someone or themselves.. and once they do go in the docs are forced to let these people out because of refusal of payment from insurance. It IS the systems fault.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

I do blame insurance companies and the metnal health system for not committing him to a treatment program for a longer period of time.... Someone had to take responsibility for him. He was too sick to take care of himself. However, it's really a no win situation because once you get treatment and you feel ok the docs let you go and it's up to you to keep taking your meds..etc. Most don't, and then when they get sick again they are worse than before. Our Mental Health system in this country is pathetic. Insurance only covers up to a 5 day stay in a hospital unless the person has hurt someone or themselves.. and once they do go in the docs are forced to let these people out because of refusal of payment from insurance. It IS the systems fault.

Generally you can't force someone into treatment. And if he's well enough to release himself unfortunately that's the way things work.

I'd like to see colleges do background checks on prospective students. I'm not saying people with a history of mental illness shouldn't be allowed into school, but schools should at least be aware of who has a history of issues.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

I do blame insurance companies and the metnal health system for not committing him to a treatment program for a longer period of time.... Someone had to take responsibility for him. He was too sick to take care of himself. However, it's really a no win situation because once you get treatment and you feel ok the docs let you go and it's up to you to keep taking your meds..etc. Most don't, and then when they get sick again they are worse than before. Our Mental Health system in this country is pathetic. Insurance only covers up to a 5 day stay in a hospital unless the person has hurt someone or themselves.. and once they do go in the docs are forced to let these people out because of refusal of payment from insurance. It IS the systems fault.

I'm sorry but to blame the insurance Co is just plane BS as you have know idea what went on. Its just the easy thing to do to blame the insurance co. Now if you have information that they would not treat the guy or if he even had health ins. please give us the link. I'm in the Insurance business (I do not sell health Ins.) but I get tired of hearing these blanket statements about how its some how the insurance co, fault when you have no clue of the details.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I'm sorry but to blame the insurance Co is just plane BS as you have know idea what went on. Its just the easy thing to do to blame the insurance co. Now if you have information that they would not treat the guy or if he even had health ins. please give us the link. I'm in the Insurance business (I do not sell health Ins.) but I get tired of hearing these blanket statements about how its some how the insurance co, fault when you have no clue of the details.

I agree 110%.

It's really amazing how insurance companies are portrayed as the big bad guy all the time.

I'm not trying to put anyone down here, but frankly I think in large part these blanket statements are due to ignorance and a misguided understanding of what insurance really is, and how it works.

I get the idea that the general thought is that insurance companies should just always pay, pay, pay and pay. If that was the case we would simply not have insurance as we know it.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I agree 110%.

It's really amazing how insurance companies are portrayed as the big bad guy all the time.

I'm not trying to put anyone down here, but frankly I think in large part these blanket statements are due to ignorance and a misguided understanding of what insurance really is, and how it works.

I get the idea that the general thought is that insurance companies should just always pay, pay, pay and pay. If that was the case we would simply not have insurance as we know it.

They get blamed even when the person blaming the Insurance Industry has know clue to any of the facts.

[Hog1]

Your right Hess, the insurance companies (through the employers, or the insured persons choices) DO dictate the level of treatment you recieve. When that runs out...........your gone

[diehardskin2982]

If he wanted to become infamous he acclomplished that thanks to NBC, I just hope this makes VA consider changing their gun laws.

[724Skinsfan]

Infamous for a brief moment in history. No one remembers the name of the UT sniper back in the 60's. I even had a hard time recalling the Columbine kids names and I lived outside of Denver at the time.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Infamous for a brief moment in history. No one remembers the name of the UT sniper back in the 60's. I even had a hard time recalling the Columbine kids names and I lived outside of Denver at the time.

EXACTLY!!!! Their fame is brief at best. They all fall under the name "Gunman" once time has past.

[Bushead]

Treatment is way more successful if you want to change and help your self, and if you build a good relationship with those who are trying to help you. If you don't want those two things, treatment probably won't work.