I’ve had a few regulars e-mail and ask for my opinion on Nidal Hasan’s recent shooting spree. One commenter in particular sent me a very long list of questions that asked for my opinion on such things as religious fanatics, gun laws, my experience with inmates, etc. I won’t address all of her questions but I will touch on a few of her main points.
Before I respond I have to frame my response with a disclaimer of sorts. My response will feature another extremist with a religious delusion. I in no way am trying to blame religion or even a particular religion. Do I think that certain religions lend themselves to extremism? Yes. Do I think that religions are the main cause? No. I’ve been around enough mentally ill people and gang members to realize that crazy people can latch on to just about any goofy viewpoint. And, at risk of not being “politically correct”, I’m going to invoke yet another Lt. Locus quote. It’s something he’d often say to me when we had to conduct a use of force on the mental health unit. Lt. Locus was not “politically correct” but he was often right:
“Patterson, looks like another nut came unglued.”
This response pretty much sums up my opinion of Major Hasan.
Instead of spending time on Hasan I’d like to take you back to the 80’s and draw your attention to another nut. As soon as this tragic event happened Rollen Stewart immediately sprang to my mind.
Stewart became famous for appearing at sporting events in the 80s. His schtick was to wear a rainbow wig and sport a John 3:16 shirt. Stewart thought he was on a mission for the Lord.
Apparently at first just in it for the publicity stunts, Stewart became a born again Christian obsessed with “getting the message out” via television.
Stewart finally came unglued and holed himself up in a hotel room, held a maid hostage using a .45 caliber pistol, and was arrested by the police.
Stewart was arrested in 1992 after a standoff in a California hotel during which he entered a vacant room with two men he was attempting to kidnap and surprised a chambermaid who then locked herself in the bathroom. Reportedly, Stewart believed that the Rapture was due to arrive in six days.[6] During the standoff, he threatened to shoot at airplanes taking off from nearby Los Angeles International Airport, and covered the hotel room windows with “John 3:16″ placards.[3]
It’s very hard to cure or control the criminally insane. Yes, you can counsel them and medicate them but they often quit counseling and they frequently stop taking their meds. When this happens bad things almost ALWAYS happen. In addition there are many more nutters out there who are not getting any kind of treatment, period. Hasan was just another in a long line of unstable people who had easy access to firearms. Sadly, when these nuts finally come unglued the body count often rises. In my opinion the one thing we can control is illustrated by this cartoon:
Those of you who follow this blog know my stance on gun laws. For those of you that don’t I can sum it up in a few quick bullet points:
- I’m against banning guns
- I want stricter and uniform gun laws that are enforced at the federal level
- I want mandatory training for all gun owners
I doubt that my ideas will ever happen. In fact, I’ve been bitching about this for at least 10 years and the pattern pretty much stays the same: Some nut comes unglued and shoots a bunch of people, I bitch, and the gun laws stay the same. I don’t think that federal gun laws and mandatory training would keep nuts from getting guns but I do think that they might reduce the number of firearms out there. Also, mandatory training would reduce accidental shootings in my opinion. Whatever the case it would appear that the 2nd Amendment comes with a very high price.
Lets close with a mini-documentary on Roland Stewart. When he finally wigged out he used a handgun to hold one person hostage. Luckily his sad tale was a success because nobody died. While you watch it please think about what he had in common with Nidal Hasan:
- Both are repressed loners
- Both bought into a form of extremism
- Both were very likely crazy
- Both used the convenience of firepower to carry out their mission (i.e. when is the last time some nut went on a baseball bat spree?)
-BCP
5 responses so far ↓
S.Smith // November 14, 2009 at 1:34 AM
Good points. Well put. I’d only add that, because of Nuts, common, normal, average, everyday people like me should toughen up.
(Aside: I recently moved to rural Montana and started teaching Taiji at a Gym called “the Right to Bare Arms.”)
You can’t count on people who aren’t there (like the Law) to save your life. But they’ll make good backup.
Bob Patterson // November 14, 2009 at 5:10 AM
Steven,
When in Rome and all that! I’m originally from Nebraska so firearms are a birth right. Young kids get shot guns and eventually rifles — it’s just a farm thing and in that setting those firearms are needed.
Problem is the NRA and firearm lobby is good at scare tactics: Tougher regulations on handguns will lead to the government taking away your 12 gauge, blah, blah, blah.
Sigh.
And so the body count continues to pile up.
TheMartialArtsReporter // November 15, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Another great post which is no surprise.
I always learn something.
Also, somehow idiots come in all shades,
from all backgrounds, religions, non-religions, etc.
The good thing is we are thankfully dealing only with a tiny percentage of the population.
Can you tell: I don’t watch TV anymore.
Feels good.
“What I focus on, expands.”
Thanks again for the great post.
Dojo Rat // November 16, 2009 at 7:52 PM
What if, even though his superiors and people in the Justice Dept. knew he was unstable, they intentionally left this ticking timebomb in place for… Something…
Bob Patterson // November 17, 2009 at 5:28 AM
Rat -
Not sure – I heard that idea floated around. Another one I read was the fear of addressing the issue for fear of looking anti-Muslim. Given the wars we’re in now I can see the second possibility as more likely – though anything is possible.