Thoughts and Prayers Break Out in Lewiston Maine

@whowasthatmaskedman He was being treated at a facility during the summer. He said he heard voices.

He also threatened to shoot people before.

@JSul3 And no one thought to make sure he couldnt access weapons.....There are no words to cover that level of wrongdoing...😷

@whowasthatmaskedman I fail to grasp that too, the simple fact that he was Army Reserve and had access to firearms should have set alarm bells off long before he was released. Notwithstanding that the Police should have been sent to his home to remove any legal or illegal firearms he may have had access to too. I had back problems at one point a few years ago and my Doctor made sure my Driver's License was suspended so I couldn't drive as I was on heavy painkillers.

@whowasthatmaskedman @JSul3 He was on training at Camp Smith in Peekskill, NY this summer and began acting irrationally, so they had him evaluated and detained for a couple of weeks. But I believe his home facility was in Saco, Maine. He had recently lost his job there. His family knew he had been hearing voices and in fact he had specifically mentioned that the people at both locations that were attacked were talking about him and that he could hear their voices. He also mentioned a third location as soon as family members heard, and police went there, but it was not open last night.

@spjennifer The more that comes out about the family the worst the background gets. Of course, the blame will be spread so thin as to disappear completely..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman According to the family, he had not shown any violent tendencies, so they were very surprised. But when they heard the locations, they knew it was him, and contacted the police quickly so they could respond to the third location. I am sure we will learn more facts in time.

@whowasthatmaskedman Unless I'm mistaken a normal "Psych hold" is 72 hours so If they kept him for 2 weeks there were deeper concerns than just some guy having a bad day. Someone needs to at least lose their job over this disaster.

@spjennifer I doubt anything that official will happen. However, maybe some journalist will take an interest, follow the chain of events and pick up where people dropped the ball and publicize all the names and pictures. A little publicity is in order for these people..😷

@whowasthatmaskedman Quite a few reporters were asking those questions and were told to ask them again at some later time after the suspect is caught.
I don't think any of those who were in the press conference were involved in his care so I can understand them not wanting to comment.

@whowasthatmaskedman Why do you want to deprive people of their liberty without a trial? If someone claimed that you are nuts and locked you up for years, is that something you would be happy with if it happened to you?

@Diotrephes No.. But how much more miserable would I be identifying my grandaughters body in a morgue with half a face??
I dont want to sound uncaring of other people here. But if no one starts looking at the rights of the many innocent members of the community to just plain live as more important than this b@$t@rd$ right to take it into his head to shoot people and no one even stops him buying the means (that can be used for no other purpose) then you are living in an effing sick society and god help your children, because you wont.😷

@whowasthatmaskedman Deliberate shooting deaths are actually very rare in America. One of the biggest offenders are the Slave Patrollers, who will eagerly shoot anyone for any reason or for no reason because their lovers will cover for them.

Shootings make the news because "if it bleeds, it leads."
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/mortality/lcwk9.htm

@Diotrephes Its probably not polite to call you a deliberate liar.. So there has to be another explanation..😷
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/gun-deaths-by-country

@whowasthatmaskedman Notice I said that "Deliberate shooting deaths are actually very rare in America." That is in comparison to all of the other causes of death. Deliberate shooting deaths comprise less than 1% of all of the deaths in a year.

@Diotrephes Another and probably more appropriate way to state that is that close to 1 in every 100 deaths in America are unnecessary and preventable.

@Diotrephes Now I suppose you are going to redefine the word "deliberate" ? Or maybe include all deaths by natural causes, such as old age??😷

@windinhishair One of the good things about language is that you can use words to convey your specific perspective on any issue.

Sure, gun deaths are preventable. When a person walks around with a loaded gun that person has already made a commitment to commit first-degree murder when he gets upset with someone.

But the real issue is that if you want gun control laws then it is necessary to change the constitution to allow for such laws. Right now, under the current constitution all gun control laws are unconstitutional and should be declared invalid.

Consider the Idaho State constitution =

"Article I, Idaho Constitution
Text of Section 11:
Right to Keep and Bear Arms

The people have the right to keep and bear arms, which right shall not be abridged; but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to govern the carrying of weapons concealed on the person nor prevent passage of legislation providing minimum sentences for crimes committed while in possession of a firearm, nor prevent the passage of legislation providing penalties for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon, nor prevent the passage of any legislation punishing the use of a firearm. No law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition. Nor shall any law permit the confiscation of firearms, except those actually used in the commission of a felony."
https://ballotpedia.org/Article_I,_Idaho_Constitution

Or consider the Florida State constitution=

"Article I, Florida Constitution
Text of Section 8:
Right to Bear Arms

(a) The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law.

(b) There shall be a mandatory period of three days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, between the purchase and delivery at retail of any handgun. For the purposes of this section, "purchase" means the transfer of money or other valuable consideration to the retailer, and "handgun" means a firearm capable of being carried and used by one hand, such as a pistol or revolver. Holders of a concealed weapon permit as prescribed in Florida law shall not be subject to the provisions of this paragraph.

(c) The legislature shall enact legislation implementing subsection (b) of this section, effective no later than December 31, 1991, which shall provide that anyone violating the provisions of subsection (b) shall be guilty of a felony.

(d) This restriction shall not apply to a trade in of another handgun.[1]"
https://ballotpedia.org/Article_I,_Florida_Constitution

Now consider the Maine State Constitution=

"Article I, Maine Constitution
Text of Section 16:
To Keep and Bear Arms

Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned.[1]"
https://ballotpedia.org/Article_I,_Maine_Constitution

So, under the Maine State constitution, the shooter has the absolute right to keep and bear arms because he is a citizen and that right shall never be questioned by the passage of gun control laws.

The bottom line is that if you want gun control laws then simply change the constitution to include language like that in the Idaho and Florida State constitutions. It really is that simple.

@Diotrephes In the United States of America, federal law takes precedence over state law. So states can have laws pertaining to gun possession and control, but it cannot contravene federal law. Federal law at present clearly allows for some limits on gun possession. It is not absolute, regardless of what individual state law says. So a state or local law could be passed that says, for example, that guns are not allowed on grounds used for schooling children, and that law would be constitutional.

Shall we just look at what is constitutional at the moment, as described by Justice Scalia in the Heller case? (bolding is mine)


So as you can see, my friend, the Second Amendment under the US Constitution DOES have limits and DOES allow for restrictions. States can pass what they wish as state law, but it cannot be at odds with federal law.

@spjennifer That's what they do in Canada.

@Diotrephes Scalia didn't make the ruling himself. He simply wrote the majority opinion, which explains the COURT'S ruling. Not HIS ruling. And until it is modified in the future, it is and will remain the law according to the Constitution.