16 February 2008 - 11:55pm
What the press find most interesting about Illinois gunman Kazmierczak
He had been institutionalized for mental health ... by his own parents.
He was on mind-alterning prescription medication.
He pushed his girlfriend around, part of his "abusive" behavior.
He had a history of cutting himself.
He bought all four of his guns at one shop -- two of them just a few days before.
But what was the AP lead?
Steven Kazmierczak had the look of a boyish graduate student — except for the disturbing tattoos that covered his arms.
Yeah. Tattoos are the issue here. Right.
Let's also note that he had a computer (uh-oh) and was apparently drinking large quantities of energy drinks. He also played chess. (Ooooooh!)
He had served in the Army for six months (and current status not quite clear). He also "served as an officer in two student groups dedicated to promoting understanding of the criminal justice system."
He was also known to watch Oprah on weekday afternoons. (Okay, that part is made up. But those tattoos -- obviously that's where the story lies.)
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Comments
I'm very surprised that even after Cho, people still don't understand that this is schizophrenia, a difficult, dangerous, insidious disorder that sneaks up on people. The voices in the head are quiet at first, then they become louder, more demanding. Kill Them is a typical order, Kill Yourself, more typical. This poor man followed orders. At some point you just can't keep them down, those voices. They win.
Let's keep in mind that only a fraction of gun crimes (or violent crimes, for that matter) are committed by people with mental health issues. We don't want to put all the mentally ill in one basket and label them dangerous because that's just not accurate--and the mentally ill face a lot of discrimination already.
In the Army six months? No one is in the Army for six months. He was kicked out that is the only explanation. Makes me wonder what type of discharge he received.
I know many people with sick tattoos who are actually normal.
He was an emotional wreak, no amount of gun control could have stopped him.
I hate to think of how having everyone on campus armed would have stopped him. I think the body count would have been higher, with people frightened and armed shooting at anything that moves.
The guy should not have been able to get a gun, period. It's one thing if he had bought one on the black market, but he bought four guns, and bought them legally, despite his background of mental illness.
So sad.
Let's keep in mind that getting those tattoos were a part of a pattern of behavior that was seemingly out of character for him. They are an important piece of information in the investigation which is trying to provide answers for a grieving campus.