The newspaper headline (April 27): “Mills signs law expanding gun background checks,” involved a factor that played no part in the devastating Lewiston shooting. The commission, charged to investigate the case, will spend little time assessing her for vetoing the legislative bills banning bump stocks and other rapid fire modification devices. Machine guns in school rooms and bowling facilities, ongoing, is crazy.

Instead, Card’s release from Four Winds Psychiatric Hospital in Katolah, New York, after 14 days of involuntary commitment, without first complying with three hospital conditions, is what led to his killing 18 people and 13 wounded. The three conditions were: (1) removal of his guns to family; (2) regular intake of medications and (3) a friend was to co-reside in his home. The hospital’s failure to require the conditions to fit ad hoc status was shameful! Card, in place of the hospital, was left in charge of fulfilling meaningful factors. He chose not to!

On plural occasions following Card’s release from the hospital, peace officers attempted to communicate with him, at his residence. He was home, but refused to open the door. Opportunities denied, to get Card’s compliance, to be rid of his guns, etc. Officers voiced opinions that they were lawless to obtain his presence.

When Card was so loosely handled, by staff of a New York psychiatric hospital, what, if any, was Maine’s chance to be heard? Were meaningful contacts between psychiatric minds of the two states addressed?

Political headlines seem always in season. Lately, so is life.

 

John Benoit

Manchester

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