I agree with Ian's statements about the medical director and his views on insanity pleas.  We had to read a lot of insanity cases in criminal law class and they are all very disturbing.  It is hard to find one system of punishment that fits every situation but the key is getting them the hell off the streets.

One thing that particularly bothers me recently is the media frenzy.  Part of why some of these guys go off in the fashion they do is that someone pissed them off and they want the whole world to see them "get even".  That is why they always make tapes and write lists and leave everything necessary to get their message out after they are dead.  Unfortunately the news media plays into that by making the perpetrator into a "celebrity" of sorts.

It may sound cruel but I have to go with Spike on this one.  All my sympathy is for the victim's families.  Cho can smoke a turd in hell, "misunderstood" or not.

Quote from: Dominus NoxYes, that professor was a hero. 77 years old and blocked the door so his students could escape, getting shot in the process.

God, the guy survived the nazis to be gunned down by a punk with a couple pistols.

Anyway, if there's a heaven, I'm sure it rolled out the red carpet for that old man.

Well said Koltar and Nox.

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaVery, very true.  The Frances Farmer situation being one of the more famous examples.  On the flip side, sometimes they do more good than harm.  It's all in the application of care.

Also very true. All too often these days, folks would rather write somebody off as insane, commit them, and go about their lives. It takes a strong character to care enough to see somebody who is troubled through their rough times. Alas there are too few such in our society.

QuoteI once worked with a medical director of a community mental health agency who was very clear on his rather surprising opinion of "the insanity plea".  He felt that anyone who committed a crime must be held accountable for their actions.  Being mentally ill is certainly an extenuating circumstance and must be taken into account during sentencing, but it in no way absolves a person of a crime that he committed.  As harsh as that may sound, the medical director in question was possibly the most sensibly compassionate person I ever met in the field.

I would like to buy former coworker a drink.

Quote from: GrimjackWell said Koltar and Nox.

 Well that made me laugh.
 Never thought I'd see that in a response line.

Considering the topic - it does make sense.

- Ed C.