In the wake of the shootings, Jennifer Roback Morse writes about the intractable problem of the mentally ill (as it's more than abundantly clear that the shooter was). This is something with which I, unfortunately, have some personal experience. It is tragic, and frustrating. But in this particular case, it was also devastating to dozens of innocents and their families.

Yep. Another "gift" from our friends the lawyers, may they generally burn in Hell forever.

I recall my pop coming back immensely frustrated from hearings when he was a resident at the state hospital. One of his patients would talk normally for 20 minutes to a clueless judge, and the judge, abetted by a zealous lawyer, would say: gosh, doc, despite all your description of his psychotic behaviour elsewhere he seems reasonable enough to me now, I don't see how I can take away his sacred freedom.

More than one of his patients killed others or themselves after being discharged against the strong advice of the doctors, sometimes his family. If any other institution in our society directly caused death and suffering in this way, by negligently making fatally wrong decisions far outside their area of expertise, we'd hold them accountable. Doctors fear malpractise suits, corporations fear wrongful-death judgments.

But prosecutors and judges remain our only remaining aristocracy, who can play amateur God and escape any responsibility whatsoever for the consequences.

A walk through any American city reveals many mentally ill people left on the street to beg, steal or worse. A woman is often threatened by such people. This is truly frustrating.

Carl: "Another "gift" from our friends the lawyers, may they generally burn in Hell forever."

And be furloughed only to represent you, no doubt.