My suggestions for addressing mass killings in the news would be to break the problem down into three Ms
1. Mental Illness - Change the law and create a legal preclusion to the purchase and possession of firearms for anyone with a current prescription for any medication with serious side-effects like "may cause suicidal ideation". We can argue about the details, like which drugs should be on the list, but there ought to be a list. If the individual hasn't been adjudicated, then they come off the list thirty days after the prescription expires or is cancelled. Such a list should then be added to the NICS system. Also, implement FIX NICS.
2. Media Attention - Since the belief that they will be showered in media attention is the driving motivation that unites these people, reporting the names and images of suspect by commercial news organizations should be dramatically restricted. A federal judge should be on call 24/7 to make the call which incidents qualify and a process for news organizations who wish to contest should be established with access to the federal court of appeals for the local circuit.
3. Means of Violence - This one is almost impossible to control, because there are millions of firearms in circulation, and people will not cooperate with attempts to reduce that number. Also, a process of substitution will drive attackers into using other means, such as knives, gasoline, cars, planes etc...
Yet they are obsessing about guns and slighting the first two? I thought that many of the European countries, whose laws they are so enamored of, place restrictions on the media.
1. Mental Illness - Change the law and create a legal preclusion to the purchase and possession of firearms for anyone with a current prescription for any medication with serious side-effects like "may cause suicidal ideation". We can argue about the details, like which drugs should be on the list, but there ought to be a list. If the individual hasn't been adjudicated, then they come off the list thirty days after the prescription expires or is cancelled. Such a list should then be added to the NICS system. Also, implement FIX NICS.
2. Media Attention - Since the belief that they will be showered in media attention is the driving motivation that unites these people, reporting the names and images of suspect by commercial news organizations should be dramatically restricted. A federal judge should be on call 24/7 to make the call which incidents qualify and a process for news organizations who wish to contest should be established with access to the federal court of appeals for the local circuit.
3. Means of Violence - This one is almost impossible to control, because there are millions of firearms in circulation, and people will not cooperate with attempts to reduce that number. Also, a process of substitution will drive attackers into using other means, such as knives, gasoline, cars, planes etc...
Yet they are obsessing about guns and slighting the first two? I thought that many of the European countries, whose laws they are so enamored of, place restrictions on the media.
