As much as I hate the wars, this shooting is just a nut job losing it.

[KansasVoter]

I think trying to use this to stop the wars is not an effective plan.

Just a guy with a mental problem losing it.

We look like fools if we make too big a deal out of it.

[tekisui]

1. Obviously he is a nutjob.

And, he is not the reason to get out of the wars. He is, though, a symptom of the same disease.

[rurallib]

2. True, but the stress these folks have been under pushed him past the breaking point

Man oh man have our soldiers - many of them part-timers - been stressed.

[ShortnFiery]

3. It's not as simple as "a nut job" and if history is any example there will be

more violent acts from present or former military members.

Yes it is an example of why we should not send people to go "kill and die" except when it's absolutely necessary. The guy worked with those who suffered PTSD and he snapped mentally.

[AllentownJake]

4. Well the nut job worked his way through medical school

Psyciatry school and than a residency and practiced for a number of years.

He may have flipped out but something tells me this guy wasn't always nuts.

[niyad]

5. one of the salon reporters, mark (can't remember last name) pointed out that there is

such a thing as second-hand ptsd. dealing with the horrific stories returning soldiers tell, hour after hour, day after day, can stress one to the max.

I remember what it was like dealing with 'nam vets--and from what I am hearing, what the people are saying coming back from these wars is beyond anything I ever heard. so, I am afraid it wouldn't surprise me.

[ampad]

6. I see a handful of people making asses out of themselves

But for the most part I think most people understand that this is not the route to go. No one has no idea what type of disorder this man may or may not of been suffering from. I agree, that making this into an stop-the-war-argument is wrong. It is wrong on so many levels. However, we cannot deny that stress related mental illness is eating at the military. We have no idea what this man may or may not of been suffering from. Mental illness is not as black and white as some people would like it to be. This could of been something he was suffering from for many years and the military missed it. It is not a far stretch considering the military allowed him to stay in after an FBI investigation. The entire situation is fishy as hell. I think right now is the time to keep the families of the victims in our thoughts. I do not think we will ever know the true story as it seems that someone dropped the ball on this one. As we speak the FBI and the military are scrambling to cover their asses. As someone stated before why in the hell send this guy into a war zone when he was being investigated by the FBI?

[KansasVoter]

7. Lots of out troops are under stress. Most don't go on a shooting spree.

[ezgoingrl]

9. No they don't, but

they do commit suicide, withdraw from society and get divorced...all of these are symptoms of an ailing military.

[elocs]

8. So, is this another example of branding someone who is mentally ill as a "nutjob"

if they commit a violent act? Or are they just "nutjobs" in general? What about people who cannot walk or limp, are they just cripples and gimps? Can our use of words and labels separate us from some of the thoughtless attitudes that the rightwingers exhibit?

[optimator]

10. is it sane to launch airstrikes

killing 100s of civilians?