Killer Mails Letter, Photos, Video to NBC

Infamous for a brief moment in history. No one remembers the name of the UT sniper back in the 60's. I even had a hard time recalling the Columbine kids names and I lived outside of Denver at the time.

The media is still not asking the right questions. What is VA's procedure on checking for mental health commitments for gun applicants? This guy was involuntarily committed. He would have been permanently denied a firearm for life if they had known about it when he applied for the gun. If they only rely on the honor system for people to disclose that information on the application, then that's what needs to change.

I do blame insurance companies and the metnal health system for not committing him to a treatment program for a longer period of time.... Someone had to take responsibility for him. He was too sick to take care of himself. However, it's really a no win situation because once you get treatment and you feel ok the docs let you go and it's up to you to keep taking your meds..etc. Most don't, and then when they get sick again they are worse than before. Our Mental Health system in this country is pathetic. Insurance only covers up to a 5 day stay in a hospital unless the person has hurt someone or themselves.. and once they do go in the docs are forced to let these people out because of refusal of payment from insurance. It IS the systems fault.

Generally you can't force someone into treatment. And if he's well enough to release himself unfortunately that's the way things work.

I'd like to see colleges do background checks on prospective students. I'm not saying people with a history of mental illness shouldn't be allowed into school, but schools should at least be aware of who has a history of issues.

Money, money, money, and ratings which equal money. NBC was probably so thrilled to recieve this package. I know they hyped the crap out of the fact that they were going to show off its contents. The media blows when things like this happen. They know that stories like these equal extremely high ratings which in turn equals money. Anyone notice that NBC (Dateline) was in Blacksburg live by 6pm? They knew this was a big story. I think that for the families and victims, the media should have to refrain from doing exactly what the idiot wanted, show off his packet of crap. From here on if any news program that I am watching is talking about this, Im turning the channel.

Treatment is way more successful if you want to change and help your self, and if you build a good relationship with those who are trying to help you. If you don't want those two things, treatment probably won't work.

I just read that some of the victims' friends and family members have pulled out of interviews with NBC because they aired this crap.
Like you said, by showing these rants he is getting exactly what he wanted. He obviously felt like he didn't matter in life, so he wanted to make himself matter/known in death and now that's what has happened.
When is the media going to learn not to support this stuff, and when are we in the general public going to learn not to buy into this shit?!?!


never man never

Families cancel NBC appearances over gunman video - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070419/us_nm/usa_crime_shooting_nbc_dc)

I mentioned this earlier, but here is an article that talks about some of the victims' families' reaction to NBC for airing the videos.

You guys miss the point that when you are mentally ill there is no choice of doing what is best for you and wanting to get well. When you are that sick you don't know what you want, or how to help yourself. That's why people have to be committed to hospitals and put on drugs before they can even begin to understand what's happening to them.

You guys miss the point that when you are mentally ill there is no choice of doing what is best for you and wanting to get well. When you are that sick you don't know what you want, or how to help yourself. That's why people have to be committed to hospitals and put on drugs before they can even begin to understand what's happening to them.

I don't totally buy that argument, Hess. I do get the spirit of what you're saying; The healthcare system has failed us and should assume a larger responsibility somehow.

However, in this specific incident we were dealing with an individual that was cognizant enough to sit in classes in a major university, took care of his own basic needs day in and day out, had the presence of mind to buy a gun and many other things that normal people do. What I'm getting at is this kid seemed somewhat normal.

You guys miss the point that when you are mentally ill there is no choice of doing what is best for you and wanting to get well. When you are that sick you don't know what you want, or how to help yourself. That's why people have to be committed to hospitals and put on drugs before they can even begin to understand what's happening to them.

Who determines who's sick enough in the head to be committed? I've known probably half a dozen people over the course of my life who have very similar personalities to this guy, and none of them ever did anything dangerous. What's the criteria for being committed and who sets the rules? Anyone who's overly shy, or doesn't have a lot of friends gets committed? There are so many things wrong with that idea. It wouldn't work.