I'm not quite understanding Jim Graham's Point. He wrote: >A Minneapolis specific reply to Mork's suggestion that >since people have "guns" lying around, mentally ill people >may have access to and use them.Is Mr. Mork also >suggesting that automobiles be outlawed in Minneapolis >because a mentally ill person may have access to them? >After all car keys are left lying around all the time, and >much more frequently than guns. How about paint in >those spray cans? I see them being "huffed" all the time >by what are clearly mentally ill people. Shouldn't the City >of Minneapolis make it illegal to sell or posses spray >paint within City Limits. While we are on the subject of >prohibitive laws, how about Listerine and such mouth >washes? Shouldn't the City of Minneapolis make it >illegal for drug stores and convenience stores to sell that >stuff? It has high alcohol content and is often used by >alcoholics to get high. Especially on Sunday when >cheap wine is unavailable. I guess shooting of guns and >shooting off mouths make more noise and get more >attention by some when it comes to a favored >"Prohibition".
Does Mr. Graham think the law that prohibits the mentally ill from carrying concealed weapons is unconstitutional? It is, of course. It would be like denying someone a permit because they once had diabetes, their disease got out of control and they were hospitalized. It doesn't make sense. Unless of course, you believe that someone who has a mental illness can never get better. The Schmidt incident was very sad. But Schmidt was trained to deal with the mentally ill and she died in the line of duty. She probably saved other people's lives with her actions. Martha Donald's death was also sad. If she had gotten the proper help or if she hadn't been ill that night, things might not have happened as they did. But she was ill that night and she did have a gun. And now she's dead. It's kind of like the 88 year old woman that was driving a car in Roseville that struck another car and killed two people. Does that mean no 88 year old people should be allowed to drive? There are a lot of people in this world that have had, and recovered, from some type of mental illness. It time our laws start to reflect reality rather than our fears. Renee Jenson Como Ren�e Jenson REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
