Guilty by Reason of Insanity
Schizophrenia is more common among men than women, and it most often strikes during the late teens to early twenties.
I would be very surprised if this 24 year old man who shot and killed two people at Virginia Tech today is not schizophrenic.
he was already in jail on charges of theft (antisocial behavior is textbook schizophrenia). Friends of his are absolutely shocked, which speaks to the inconsistency and out-of-characterness of his actions. Of course, it's quite likely he isn't mentally ill at all; my point is that the criminal justice system does not deal with mental illness properly.
I knew a boy in college who seemed fine until he stabbed his faculty advisor in the neck (he recovered). He was thrown into jail, but had been exhibiting psychosis for awhile that no one noticed. Last I heard he was locked up in an la jail awaiting trial.
what would you do if a strange man with a black ski mask pulled over his head broke into your bedroom tonight and tried to strangle you? Would you defend yourself? Would you kill him if it came down to your life or his?
then, what if you learned that was actually a psychotic episode, and the man you killed was your husband of 20 years?
I would be very surprised if this 24 year old man who shot and killed two people at Virginia Tech today is not schizophrenic.
he was already in jail on charges of theft (antisocial behavior is textbook schizophrenia). Friends of his are absolutely shocked, which speaks to the inconsistency and out-of-characterness of his actions. Of course, it's quite likely he isn't mentally ill at all; my point is that the criminal justice system does not deal with mental illness properly.
I knew a boy in college who seemed fine until he stabbed his faculty advisor in the neck (he recovered). He was thrown into jail, but had been exhibiting psychosis for awhile that no one noticed. Last I heard he was locked up in an la jail awaiting trial.
what would you do if a strange man with a black ski mask pulled over his head broke into your bedroom tonight and tried to strangle you? Would you defend yourself? Would you kill him if it came down to your life or his?
then, what if you learned that was actually a psychotic episode, and the man you killed was your husband of 20 years?
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