IAN LONG, OUR LATEST SHOOTER
COMPILATION AND COMMENTARY
BY LUCY WARNER
NOVEMBER 8, 2018

POLICE IN THIS CASE HAD HAD CONTACT WITH THIS SHOOTER “EARLIER THIS YEAR” WHEN HE WAS BEHAVING “ERRATICALLY” AND “IRRITABLY” AT HIS HOME. IN THIS CASE THEY DIDN’T SHOOT HIM ON SIGHT, BUT TOOK HIM TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH “A POLICE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.” HE WAS CLEARED AT THAT TIME AND RELEASED, BUT HE PROBABLY SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN. THE ALLOWED 72 HOUR HOSPITAL STAY WOULD HAVE PERHAPS CAUGHT THE NATURE OF HIS ILLNESS BETTER AND RENDERED THERAPY. THE TEENAGED MALE WHO COMMITTED THE SANDY HOOK SHOOTING THAT KILLED SO MANY SMALL CHILDREN HAD BEEN UNDER MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR SOME TIME BUT “STOPPED TAKING HIS MEDICINES.” HIS MOTHER FOR SOME REASON DIDN’T FORCE HIM TO GO BACK ON THEM, AND HE HAD STOPPED THE THERAPIST VISITS AS WELL. SOME PATIENTS DO JUST AS WELL WITH SELF-ADMINISTERED MEDS AT HOME, BUT NOT ALL DO, AND WE HAVE TAKEN TO MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THAT THEY DON’T “NEED” TO BE HOSPITALIZED. OUR PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS SHOULD NOT DO THAT. IN A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, A QUICK DECISION IS A SHALLOW DECISION. SO, AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED, SHORTCUTS AND COST SAVING OF THAT SORT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED MALPRACTICE.

THE MANNER IN WHICH OUR LAWS ARE WRITTEN CAUSES A LAPSE IN APPROPRIATE CAUTION BY OFFICERS AND EVEN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. ASK A SEASONED PSYCHOTHERAPIST WHETHER A TEN QUESTION PAPER TEST IS ENOUGH ON WHICH TO BASE A DIAGNOSIS IN SUCH AN IMPORTANT MATTER. IN THE CASE OF THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION ACT, A PHILOSOPHICAL FAD AT THE TIME HELD THAT HOLDING PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR WILL IN ASYLUMS WAS AGAINST OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES, AND YES, THAT WAS A LIBERAL IDEA FOR THE MOST PART. NOT EVERYTHING THAT IS LIBERAL IS GOOD. FROM THE REPUBLICAN STANDPOINT, ONGOING IN-HOSPITAL CARE IS EXPENSIVE. SAVE THE GOVERNMENT MONEY! GOVERNMENT IS TOO LARGE AND TOO POWERFUL!

THE KNEEJERK ASSUMPTION MADE, TOO OFTEN, IS THAT IF THE DISRUPTIVE OR DEPRESSED INDIVIDUAL ISN’T CONSIDERED AT FIRST GLANCE AS BEING A DANGER TO HIMSELF OR THE COMMUNITY, THAT THEY DON’T REQUIRE ONGOING AND OFTEN IN-HOSPITAL CARE. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT JUST ISN’T SO. THEY CAN BE PASSIVE AT ONE MINUTE, AND VIOLENT FIVE MINUTES LATER. FURTHER, NON-VIOLENT PEOPLE ARE NOT NECESSARILY “WELL,” IN FACT THEY CAN BE MORE DANGEROUSLY ILL THAN THOSE WHO DO SHOW THEIR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS. IN MY OPINION, THE MORE REPRESSED DISORDERED THINKING IS, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS TO BE DANGEROUS. THIS CASE TODAY IS THE THIRD I’VE SEEN IN WHICH A MURDERER HAD JUST RECENTLY UNDERGONE MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION AND PASSED INSPECTION. I PARTICULARLY DISAGREE WITH ALLOWING A POLICEMAN OR THE FAMILY MINISTER TO MAKE A PSYCHIATRIC DECISION. THEY’RE GEARED TO SIN, CRIME, AND PUNISHMENT, AND TOO OFTEN DON’T EVEN THINK BEYOND THOSE.

IT IS CLEAR TO SOME OF US THAT RONALD REAGAN IS THE ONE TO BLAME, ALONG WITH “DEMOCRATS” ACCORDING TO THIS ARTICLE, WHO WROTE THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION LAW THAT PUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FORMERLY HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OUT ON THE STREET, CAUSING HOMELESSNESS TO RISE AND VIOLENT EVENTS AS WELL. NOW A DONALD TRUMP, OR A NUMBER OF OTHER EQUALLY CYNICAL AND AMORAL POLITICIANS, COMES ALONG AND EXCITES THEIR PARANOIA IN OR TO GET THEIR VOTES. THEY BECOME AFRAID THAT A TRAVELING GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TOGETHER FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION ARE ACTUALLY “INVADERS” AND THEY THERE ARE “MIDDLE-EASTERNERS” AMONG THEM. THE FACT THAT TRUMP HAS TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY FROM THE MAINSTREAM NEWS SOURCES, THEY ARE DEPENDENT UPON FOX NEWS, BREITBART, INFOWARS, HIS OWN PUBLISHING OFFICE IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND OTHER DESPICABLE OUTLETS FOR THEIR INFORMATION. IT REMINDS ME OF A GREAT OLD SLIGHTLY VULGAR SLOGAN, “I MUST BE A MUSHROOM. YOU KEEP ME IN THE DARK AND FEED ME B....”

MAYBE WE NEED NEWER AND MORE CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED LAWS AGAINST DANGEROUS TALK; THE PROBLEM WITH THAT TYPE OF LAW IS THAT IT IS LIKELY TO BE CONCERNED WITH TALK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT ONLY. WHILE THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE ACTIVITY OF GROUPS THAT HATE “THE GOVERNMENT,” SUCH AS THE “SOVEREIGN CITIZENS," IS THE ROAD TO MOB RULE AND CRIMINALITY OF THE WORST KIND. MY DEEPEST CONCERN IS WITH THE WELFARE AND SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. (SEE ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS, BELOW. THE HISTORY OF THAT SET OF ACTS, HOWEVER IS INTERESTING AND EVEN EXCITING TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TOWARD DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES AND FAIRNESS TO ALL, SO YOU WILL VERY LIKELY WANT TO READ THE WHOLE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE.) IN THIS COUNTRY WE TEND TO THINK THAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS JUST AN ABSENCE OF CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT AND CHURCH ATTENDANCE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT ISN’T A MATTER OF THEIR “LACK OF FAITH,” SO MUCH AS A LACK OF PERSONALITY COHESIVENESS AND SOMETIMES BRAIN DAMAGE.

THE PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING THAT WE HUMANS CAN’T SEE WITH OUR EYES IS THAT WE TEND TO THINK IT ISN’T REAL. I.E., MENTAL HEALTH IS A “SIMPLE” MATTER OF PERSONAL “SELF-CONTROL,” MORALITY, IMMINENT DANGER, OR DRUG USE IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MENTAL PROBLEMS USED TO BE A SCANDAL 60 YEARS OR SO AGO, AND PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT HAVING MENTAL INSTABILITY “IN THE FAMILY,” SHOWED INFERIOR GENES. ON THAT BASIS THERE WAS A FLOURISHING CULT OF GENETIC MAINTENANCE BY LAWS THAT CAUSED THOSE GIVEN TO DEPRESSIVE PROBLEMS, THE LEARNING DISABLED AND THOSE WHO ARE “OUT OF CONTROL” OR SIMPLY DIFFERENT IN ANY WAY WERE ACTUALLY STERILIZED, NOT TO MENTION STIGMATIZED. BULLYING IS NOT ONLY IMMORAL, IT IS A PRACTICE WHICH MAKES THE “ODD” INDIVIDUAL, TRULY PSYCHOTIC IN MANY CASES.

THE ANSWER TO THE OLD QUESTION OF WHETHER MENTAL PROBLEMS ARE A MATTER OF “NATURE OR NURTURE,” IT IS OBVIOUS TO THOSE WHO REALLY LOOK AT THE MATTER THAT BOTH ARE ALMOST EQUALLY HARMFUL, WITH IN MY OPINION, NURTURE BEING THE HAMMER THAT DRIVES THE NAIL IN. BEING GENTLE WITH YOUR CHILD MAY NOT MAKE HIM PERFECT, BUT IT WILL MAKE HIM LESS LIKELY TO BUY AN AR-15 AND SHOOT UP A SHOPPING MALL, OR A KINDERGARTEN.

THE MOT EGREGIOUS CASE OF HUMAN STERILIZATION WAS, OF COURSE, ADOLPH HITLER, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH OVERLY LARGE NOSES OR SLIGHTLY DARKER SKIN; BUT EVEN THE GREAT CHARLES DARWIN WAS INTERESTED IN SUCH “EUGENICS” LAWS WORLDWIDE. EVERYBODY TENDED TO THINK THAT MOST CHARACTERISTICS ARE DIRECTLY INHERITED, BUT A HUGE RANGE OF THINGS, FROM CHEMICALS IN THE WOMB TO EXPOSURE TO TOO MUCH NEGATIVE EMOTION AFFECTS HOW GENES ARE TRIGGERED AND HOW THEY WILL BE EXPRESSED. THERE ARE RANGES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA, FOR INSTANCE. NOT EVERYONE WHO IS SCHIZOPHRENIC WILL THINK THAT THE NEIGHBOR’S BARKING DOG IS “TELLING HIM TO SHOOT LOVERS WHO ARE NECKING IN PUBLIC.”

THE COMMON IMPRESSION THAT MENTAL ILLNESS IS PRIMARILY CAUSED BY ALCOHOL AND STREET DRUG USE (SIN AND CRIME), WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN THE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE THINK; IT IS NONETHELESS HARMFUL TO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF A SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, AND IT IS INACCURATE MOST OF THE TIME. YES, DRUG USE CAN AND WILL MAKE PSYCHOTIC TENDENCIES MORE EXTREME, BUT PRIMARY CAUSES ARE BEING DISCOVERED DAILY. ONCE SIGMUND FREUD’S SEXUALLY TITILLATING BELIEFS WERE NUDGED TO THE SIDE BY THOSE OF THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTERS, SUCH AS B F SKINNER, ALONG WITH THE GREAT INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE OF HOW NERVES WORK, WE HAVE MADE VAST PROGRESS IN MENTAL ILLNESS STUDIES AND TREATMENTS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, AS OUR MORE DESTRUCTIVELY IGNORANT VIEWS ARE SHARED BY OTHERS – “CAUGHT” BY THEM, ACTUALLY -- WE BECOME MORE AND MORE A SOCIETY OF DANGEROUS INDIVIDUALS. ALL SUCH A SOCIETY NEEDS TO GO ON A RAMPAGE IS ONE EVIL BUT INFLUENTIAL LEADER TO SOUND THE CALL. IF “THE WHOLE IS THE SUM OF ITS’ PARTS,” IS TRUE AND I BELIEVE IT IS, WHEN A PERSON OF BORDERLINE ABILITIES RESIDING IN A VERY DARK SOCIAL MILIEU IS TOLD THAT JEWS ARE OUT TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD AND “MUST DIE”, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE (LITERALLY).

THE FACT THAT HALLUCINATIONS AND SUICIDAL URGES ARE REALLY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES, CAUSING PEOPLE TO “SELF-MEDICATE” FITS HAND IN GLOVE WITH THE THEORY OF DIRECT CAUSATION BY THE DRUG USE; HOWEVER, I FEEL SURE THAT THE MENTAL ILLNESS IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE PERSON’S PROBLEMS, AND THE DRUG USE EXACERBATES THE EFFECT OF AN ALREADY DISTURBING BRAIN ACTIVITY, DEPRESSIVE ISSUES OR A LACK OF CLEAR THINKING.

MANY WHO HAVE THOSE SYMPTOMS WILL IN FACT USE A COMMON DRUG SUCH AS ALCOHOL TO REDUCE THE SYMPTOMS. OF COURSE, ALCOHOL IS NOT A SAFE AND HELPFUL PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION, AND IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. IT’S LIKE THE OLD PHRASE, “IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, STOP DIGGING!”

WE ALSO TEND TO THINK THAT THE PROBLEM IS “SIN,” INSTEAD OF ILL HEALTH, WITH A POSSIBLY JUST PUNISHMENT OF DEATH; SO IF A COP SHOOTS A VIOLENT BLACK OR DIRTY AND HOMELESS MENTAL PATIENT HALF A DOZEN TIMES, WHAT’S THE BIG PROBLEM? IN FACT, IF HE’S BLACK OR HISPANIC IT IS AN INSIGNIFICANT MATTER, AND THE POLICE OFFICER SHOULD RECEIVE AN AWARD FOR VALOR. THERE’S TOO MUCH SHEER STUPIDITY IN OUR SOCIETY, ALONGSIDE DEEP EVIL. TO MAKE YOUR OWN COMMENTS, GO TO: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46135459
Thousand Oaks: Ex-Marine Ian David Long identified as suspect
20 minutes ago

VIDEO -- Survivors of California shooting describe what they saw.

A US Marine Corps veteran with suspected mental health issues killed 12 people in a busy bar in California, including a policeman, officials say.

The shooting began at 23:20 local time on Wednesday in Thousand Oaks about 40 miles (65km) north-west of Los Angeles.

At least 200 people were reportedly inside the Borderline Bar and Grill, which was hosting a student line-dancing night.

Police named the suspect as 28-year-old Ian David Long.

Earlier this year, police mental health professionals interviewed and cleared him after sheriffs' deputies found him behaving "irate" and "erratically" at his home, said authorities.

Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
The night is popular among the area's local university students

How did the shooting happen?
Police say the suspect was dressed in black, and forced his way into the bar after shooting the bouncer.

A college country music night was under way when the suspect apparently threw a smoke grenade before opening fire, witnesses say.

Police say he used a legally owned .45 calibre Glock semi-automatic handgun, which had an extended magazine that is illegal in the state of California.

The extended magazine allowed the gun to carry more than its typical 11-bullet capacity.

Police say they do not yet know how many shots were fired, or whether the gunman ever reloaded during the attack.

Is there a link between mass shootings and mental illness?
Why are US mass shootings getting more deadly?

One witness, Teylor Whittler, who was celebrating her 21st birthday, said: "I was on the dance floor and I heard the gunshots, so I looked back and then all of a sudden everyone screamed: 'Get Down!'

"It was a huge panic, everyone got up, I was trampled, I was kind of left on the floor until some guy came behind me and grabbed me and dragged me out."

People escaped the bar by using chairs to break windows, while others reportedly sheltered inside the venue's toilets.

At least 10 people are known to have been wounded and others are self-reporting with injuries at local hospitals.

Popular among students, the bar is close to California Lutheran University, Pepperdine University and Moorpark College.

What have police said?
Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean described the scene inside the bar as "horrific" and said there was "blood everywhere".

He said first responders arrived less than three minutes after the first emergency calls from the venue were made.

Ventura Sheriff's Sergeant Ron Helus, who later died in hospital, tried to enter the active scene with a local highway patrolman when he was shot several times.

Image copyrightSOCIAL MEDIA
Image caption
Sgt Ron Helus was one of the first officers on the scene
,,
The husband and father-of-one had been a policeman for 29 years and was a professional firearms instructor.

He was due to retire next year.

"It saddens us all and tears at our emotions. He died a hero. He went in to save lives, to save other people," the sheriff said.

America's gun culture in 10 charts
Four key dates that shaped the US gun debate

Sheriff Dean, who on Thursday completes his last day serving as Ventura County sheriff, warned: "It doesn't matter how safe your community is, it doesn't matter how low your crime rate is - there are people who just don't think properly everywhere, I don't care where you are, and they commit horrific acts like this."

"There's no way to process. There's no way to make sense out of the senseless."

President Donald Trump issued a proclamation ordering flags to be lowered halfway at the White House and all public and military buildings to commemorate victims of the "terrible" attack.

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Donald J. Trump
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@realDonaldTrump
I have been fully briefed on the terrible shooting in California. Law Enforcement and First Responders, together with the FBI, are on scene. 13 people, at this time, have been reported dead. Likewise, the shooter is dead, along with the first police officer to enter the bar....

7:38 AM - Nov 8, 2018
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Donald J. Trump
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....Great bravery shown by police. California Highway Patrol was on scene within 3 minutes, with first officer to enter shot numerous times. That Sheriff’s Sergeant died in the hospital. God bless all of the victims and families of the victims. Thank you to Law Enforcement.

7:51 AM - Nov 8, 2018
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Who is the suspect?

Police say they have had several minor contacts with Long in recent years, including in April 2018 when they were called to his house after a report of a disturbance.

During talks with police, he appeared "somewhat irate, acting a little irrationally", the sheriff said.

A police crisis intervention team interviewed him, and determined that it was not necessary to hold him against his will in a mental health facility under a so-called 5150 order.

What is PTSD?
Being caught up in a traumatic event that is overwhelming, frightening and life-threatening can lead to PTSD
The symptoms usually start within a few weeks of the trauma, but they can start later
After the traumatic event people can feel grief-stricken, depressed, anxious, guilty and angry
People may have flashbacks and nightmares
People may be 'on guard' - staying alert all the time
Physical symptoms can be aches and pains, diarrhoea, irregular heartbeats, headaches, feelings of panic and fear, depression
People may start drinking too much alcohol or using drugs (including painkillers).
Source: Royal College of Psychiatrists

The order allows authorities to involuntarily detain a person for up to 72 hours if it is believed that they pose a threat to themselves or others.

Mental health professionals believed that he suffered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), the sheriff said.

In a statement, the US Marine Corp confirmed that he had served from 2008 to 2013 as a machine gunner and rose to the rank of corporal.

He served in Afghanistan from November 2010 to June 2011 and received several medals for his military service, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Police have just begun to search his home, and expect to know more about him and his possible motive soon.

According to the website Gun Violence Archive, more than 12,000 people have been killed using firearms in the US so far this year, including about 3,000 people under 18.

That number does not include an annual estimate of 22,000 suicides via firearm.

In the last two weeks alone, a man shot dead two people yoga studio in Florida, and another gunman opened fire on a synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11.

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