This is Terrorism: Colorado Springs Shooting

[_Kittens_and_Jesus]

Personally, I think the guy's a nutter, but hopefully not so much of a nutter that he will be able to claim mental illness as a mitigating factor. What he did makes no sense at all. He claims he is a warrior for the babies.

The question is, what do we do with people like this?

I'm a nursing student, so I have chosen work as an aid in a facility full of people with severe mental health issues.

I have been slapped, punched, kicked, bitten and scratched so hard that they broke skin (not an easy feat), and nearly stabbed in the chest with sharp objects.

Today someone tried to choke me while screaming "Get him out or I'll kill him!"

All of those people have severe, and often rare psychological disorders.

We're talking adjustment disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, schizophrenia, and extreme cases of bipolar disorder, which looks very much like schizotypal when seen first hand.

These are some seriously dangerously violent disorders.

All of these people were lucky enough to have family that put them into what you might call a nursing home.

Despite what you might think, we don't just take care of old people.

My residents (the ones I take care of, the real range is from 19-92) range from the age of 36 to 92.

I'm not saying that people like James Holmes and Robert Dear belong in my facility, but I don't think they belong in jail.

[_Jersey Girl]

Personally, I think the guy's a nutter, but hopefully not so much of a nutter that he will be able to claim mental illness as a mitigating factor. What he did makes no sense at all. He claims he is a warrior for the babies.

The question is, what do we do with people like this?

I'm a nursing student, so I have chosen work as an aid in a facility full of people with severe mental health issues.

I have been slapped, punched, kicked, bitten and scratched so hard that they broke skin (not an easy feat), and nearly stabbed in the chest with sharp objects.

Today someone tried to choke me while screaming "Get him out or I'll kill him!"

All of those people have severe, and often rare psychological disorders.

We're talking adjustment disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, schizophrenia, and extreme cases of bipolar disorder, which looks very much like schizotypal when seen first hand.

These are some seriously dangerously violent disorders.

All of these people were lucky enough to have family that put them into what you might call a nursing home.

Despite what you might think, we don't just take care of old people.

My residents (the ones I take care of, the real range is from 19-92) range from the age of 36 to 92.

I'm not saying that people like James Holmes and Robert Dear belong in my facility, but I don't think they belong in jail.

K&J,

I am well familiar with the nature of nursing practices involving psych patients and also residents in a dementia unit. I have family members who are medical professionals, having provided care for both, so what you are telling me is nothing new to me. They've been punched, slapped, kicked, spit at, had things thrown at them and come home with bite wounds. You name it, it's been done to them.

My personal jury is out as to whether or not Mr. Dear is mentally ill, however, a local television broadcast of him in court today has me leaning towards mentally ill. I'm willing to wait for the professionals to do what they do.

If he's mentally ill, then a jury will decide if mental illness is a mitigating factor and how that influences their verdict and sentencing. In the case of James Holmes, who was determined to be mentally ill, he was sent to prison.

Since you are a nursing student (doing clinicals?) what changes would you like to see implemented in our ability to deliver mental healthcare services?

[_The CCC]

We have Psychiatric prisons for those determined to violently criminally insane. They don't get out of those places.

[_Jersey Girl]

I missed something that I just picked up from a local report. Mr. Dear refused a pscyh eval. I'm not sure what happens next. I don't think he can refuse a court ordered psych eval, but I'm sure he can muck it up if he wants to.

[_The CCC]

I missed something that I just picked up from a local report. Mr. Dear refused a pscyh eval. I'm not sure what happens next. I don't think he can refuse a court ordered psych eval, but I'm sure he can muck it up if he wants to.

I don't know Colorado laws but here he couldn't refuse a court order. But yes he can sure be uncooperative if he wants. His own opposition can be held against him. Putting him one step closer to an involuntary commit to a psychiatric prison for the rest of his life.

[_Jersey Girl]

I missed something that I just picked up from a local report. Mr. Dear refused a pscyh eval. I'm not sure what happens next. I don't think he can refuse a court ordered psych eval, but I'm sure he can muck it up if he wants to.

I don't know Colorado laws but here he couldn't refuse a court order. But yes he can sure be uncooperative if he wants. His own opposition can be held against him. Putting him one step closer to an involuntary commit to a psychiatric prison for the rest of his life.

There is such a facility in Colorado.

Look at this (and this was in Miss Tish's post above) that I picked off the local news:

BREAKING: According to Rick Sallinger with our news partners at KCNC, alleged Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Dear said in court: "I am guilty, there will be no trial. I am a warrior for the babies."

I have no idea how this will all pan out, but we'll see. My guess is where James Holmes declined to testify, this guy is going to take the stand and yap his ass off. He interrupted his court appointed attorney and states he refuses to meet with him. What if he chooses to act as his own attorney?

I've only followed 3 criminal trials (Casey Anthony, Jodi Arias and James Holmes). I've not seen anything like this before. He's hostile as all get out.

[_Jersey Girl]

I dunno. Here's an sample of the guy in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx2w6z37Rmw

[_Jersey Girl]

This might be a bit longer. Local news.

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Accused-Planned-Parenthood-Gunman-Says-Hes-a-Warrior-for-Babies-361362761.html

I dunno. Something in my gut says this guy is making it up as he goes along.

[_The CCC]

This might be a bit longer. Local news.

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Accused-Planned-Parenthood-Gunman-Says-Hes-a-Warrior-for-Babies-361362761.html

I dunno. Something in my gut says this guy is making it up as he goes along.

His best chance at staying out of a regular prison for the rest of his life is to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. It appears that is what his lawyer is trying for. But that action just puts him one step closer to that psychiatric prison for the rest of his life. A psychiatric prison is just a prison with slightly nicer furniture, and padded cells.