This Time Is Different.....

Is it?  Maybe.  Every time I see interviews with the students from Margery Stoneman High School, the anger rises into my throat like a bloody retch!  It is so patently obvious that gun control/safety legislation is mandated by a large majority of US Citizens and yet our legislators, especially the ones on the ‘take’ from the NRA are looking for any excuse to obfuscate and find a neutral place where they appear to be ready for action, but when the moment of action comes, they would rather retain the money flow from their NRA patrons.

Further action is stonewalled by Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell.  These two people refuse to bring votes to the floor of their respective bodies.  Why?  Isn’t it obvious?  Money! 

To Ryan and McConnell, money is more important than life….except when they want to control women’s choice issues.  Then they are sanctimoniously eager to stymie the law, support efforts to restrict abortion, and to defund Planned Parenthood.

Well, those kids in Parkland, fresh from the anguish of feeling neglected by adults who would rather protect their guns than their lives, have had enough.  These brave future leaders want action.  They are calling out the NRA teat suckers.  They say, “Either you are with us or against us”.  Nothing in-between.  God Bless them.  If our legislators and President don’t heed the call, we need to oust them in November and elect people who will honor life more than weapons. 

And here is a thought…It seems like the biggest question everyone asks is about the awareness of the FBI about the shooter well in advance of the crime.  They knew, but the outrage is that they did nothing. What exactly could they do if no crime had been committed? 

There is not a mechanism to take action against someone like this.  Police or other authorities can ‘recommend’ psychiatric treatment and evaluation but have no legal instrument to force it; and there is no legal method existing to take away the person’s weapons. 

In Florida there is a law called the Baker Act.  This measure allows authorities to force involuntary examination (what some call emergency or involuntary commitment). The Act can be initiated by judges, law enforcement officials, physicians, or mental health professionals. There must be evidence that the person:

·       possibly has a mental illness (as defined in the Baker Act).

·       is in danger of becoming a harm to self, harm to others, or is self neglectful (as defined in the Baker Act).

What if we had a ‘Baker Act’ for potential mass murderers?  If authorities see all the warnings that they tell us to be looking for, they could confiscate weapons, temporarily incarcerate for psychiatric evaluation, and perhaps do other measures that would protect the public.

                   This time must be different!