I was reading the New York Times' coverage today of the Virginia Tech massacre. As I turned to the back pages, I found this article. Click here. It was right next to the last part of a story about how they found prescription drugs in Cho's (the VT shooter) dorm room. Apparently Cho had also visited a mental health facility for suicidal feelings and violent thoughts.And then I remembered hearing that Eric Harris and Dylan Kleibold, the Columbine shooters, were also on anti-depressant medication. I just double checked this and they were. For the last hour or so, I have looked up all of the major rampage killings in the last few years and guess what? There was mention of anti-depressant use in every case.
EVERY CASE!!!
Look, I am not saying that this is THE REASON why Cho killed everyone but the Times article says that one additional child out of 100 experienced worsening suicidal feelings but that would've happened anyway? Excuse me? Cho was that child! Clearly, these psychotropic drugs fuck with your brain and no one is talking about them because who wants to take on a billion dollar industry?
Final Question: How on earth did someone who was on medication AND spent time at a mental health facility buy a gun so easily? Good Lord...
1 comment:
The final question is the one that matters. I have seen first hand anti-depressants make people worse. They also do help many, many people. I am no fan of drug companies, or the way this class of drugs is handed out so freely, but they do have value. However, that value is limited to unstable people, who do not make safe, responsible gun owners.
I don't like guns, nor do I understand the people who do. There are scads of people who take huge pride in thier collections though, and are responsible. We aren't going to get rid of that in this country, it's too deeply embedded.
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