Saturday, July 25, 2015

Tunisians are not alone in the world. There are rights groups that will report abuses.

Security in the region is important. It is good to know there are reservations about the new law, but, only practice of the law will tell it's ability to stop danger to citizens without sacrificing freedom.

I personally find Tunisians to be amazing people to face down danger and bring peace and justice to bear. The people have come through the Arab Spring stronger than they were before. It is wonderful realize terrorism is under control in Tunisia. They should be congratulated.

July 25, 2015
By AP Tunis

...In a late-night session (click here) Friday, 174 deputies voted for the legislation, 10 abstained and no one voted against it – a sign of the perceived urgency for the law after Tunisia was battered by devastating attacks on tourists in March and then again June.

The law replaces legislation from 2003 and is designed to facilitate efforts to combat terrorism, but rights groups fear it will give impunity to security forces and sacrifice the achievements of the 2011 revolution for the sake of stability.
”The Tunisian authorities are rightly concerned about the growing influence of individuals and extremist groups and the threat they pose to their citizens and foreigners,” said Eric Goldstein of Human Rights Watch. ”However, laws to fight against terrorism should respect and not violate the international standards of human rights.”

Ten Tunisian human rights groups expressed reservations about the law, especially its vague definition of terror, use of capital punishment and the doubling of the amount of time police can hold prisoners incommunicado to 15 days....

Exactly. The law doesn't work.

July 25, 2015
By Polly Mosendez

...Authorities (click here) have determined John Russell Houser legally purchased the handgun he used to kill two people and injure nine others inside a Lafayette, Louisiana, movie theater this week.

Speaking at a press conference, authorities confirmed Houser purchased the handgun legally in his hometown, Phenix City, Alabama.

When law enforcement stormed the theater, Houser shot himself and died on the scene. Authorities believe he was planning to escape, as his car was parked by the exit and he had disguises with him....

At this point the idea of a costume to conceal his identity is irrelevent. He didn't leave the theater when the police arrived, so that reality interrupted him  from returning to the motel room and donning a costume.  

Where was he going after his angry shooting spree? Texas to Mexico or New Orleans and a freighter ship? How much money did he have? 

But, the most important fact and not speculation is that he had no intention of being caught and the LAW DID NOT WORK to protect those in the theater.

This is not the first time the law did not work. Over and over we as a country are hearing how weapons were purchased legally and then the discussion starts about how the gunman was not a responsible person because of mental health issues. 

One of the reasons gun laws don't work is because the task to developing a data base of the depressed citizens alone requires super-computers. It is not at all realistic. The dreamscape of the gun lobbyists is nice but it is a dreamscape and nothing more.

This is from the CDC:

...Number (click here) of ambulatory care visits (to physician offices, hospital outpatient and emergency departments) with major depressive disorder as primary diagnosis: 8.0 million (average annual 2009-2010)...

Everyone understand what is going on in that assessment?

This is a statement by the CDC about major depressive disorders. Maybe we need to clarify major depressive disorders. 

Depression (click here) is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.

This is from the Mayo Clinic. Major oppressive disorders is a significant problem. It is a problem for the individual, the family, their employers and their doctors. Does any one believe a nearly sixty year old man had health care insurance to assist his DISABILITY since he was unemployed? Major depressive disorders are a disability.

More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness and you can't simply "snap out" of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling or both.

Now, the CDC states there are 8 million Americans ANNUALLY suffering from major depressive disorders and they are not institutionalized.  

ie: ambulatory care visits 

These folks are known to be under treatment so the CDC had a valid count. They were still struggling to hold down a job and conduct a life. That's not a bad thing, because these people need contact during treatment that steers them back into their lives. They have brain chemistry imbalances as well as all the dreadful feelings accompanying that.

These folks are not the Aurora gunman. They are trying to resolve a mental disorder that has taken over their lives.

8 million Americans.

That is ONLY major depressive disorders. There are many, many mental health disorders including other strains of depression that would have to go into a data bank to prevent these people from purchasing guns legally.  

Building a data base is taking far too long. The government computers are not prepared for any of this information. And people are dying. It is going to require computers the size of the NSA dreamscape computer building. That is just the beginning. Then the entire country has to be tied into it. Anyone remember the problems with the "No Fly List?" This would be exactly that and worse because there are less people that fly than have mental illness in the USA.

It is a validate statement to say if one is ever placed on a mental disorder list so they can't purchase guns there is no coming off it.  

Health diagnosis are confidential. But, when a man goes to purchase a new hunting gun he is going to meet up with resistance because he is on the mental health data base.   

What the gun lobbyists have been successful in doing is convince the American electorate all that is needed is a mental health database to prevent all these mass shootings. Americans actually are compromising their own safety by believing it. There is no provision in any law that states if a person is diagnosed with a mental health disorder the local police are to immediately remove the guns from their residence. There is no law that allows that. There is a California law whereby parents/family can invoke such a measure with proof of the mental disorder to protect the person and the public.

However, does family always know there is a mental health diagnosis. Is that third person aware of the diagnosis? Then where is the law taking us in reassurance of protecting the public? It is taking us down a blind ally. 

The entire idea of a data base that is going to have answers about mental health issues is nonsense. How long is the American public going to pay for more and more meaningless measures that amount to nothing but, "Duck and Cover?" Our country has a treasury that can be tapped in a moment's notice to build such an infrastructure, right? No.

Now.

What is far easier and far better to do? Build a computer system that carries personal information to gun purchasing or simply limiting the type of gun that can be purchased that is KNOWN to work. The assault weapons ban works and we know it does and it costs Americans absolutely nothing because the mass killing weapons are not on the shelves in gun stores across the USA.  

Until everyone starts talking truth to power and delegitimizes the gun lobby excuses for selling guns without any type of regulation (because that is where all this is going - guns are lolly pops) there will be mass shootings and deaths of gun instructors at the hands of his/her students. That is governance? No, that is a plutocracy and it is not the USA Constitution and Supreme Court decisions I am familiar with. 

Good luck, folks, I hope everyone makes it home to the Latch key kids waiting for dinner.