the mentally ill as violent criminals who need to be controlled is not the answer

How about the mentally ill are people who need to be helped? I'm sorry the word control triggered that reaction, but it's about the health, not the person. I control my diabetes (sometimes) but I am not controlled.

No one was talking about controlling people with mental issues. The conversation was about people not getting the help they needed for coping with the world. Not one commenter said anything about "controlling" people with mental issues. No one made that leap.

But someone who decides killing a room full of kindergarteners is a good idea does not have a properly functioning brain.

Because with a knife, you have to get close. I would support better mental health care whether this guy is mental or not. Some people, though, don't have so much mental *problems* as a failure of empathy and such from birth...they'd probably test all right, though...having them around is more society's problem than theirs, if you follow me. I also think we have to get real about guns.

So it seems he killed his father first.

Drove to the school. Was buzzed in (he'd been a student there and his mom was a teacher there).

Shot his mom first. Then shot all the kids in her class. Some reports said "execution style." So horrific to contemplate.

Principal, Vice Principal and School Psychologist/Counselor went running out into the hall when they heard the shooting.

Principal and Counselor were killed, Vice Principal was wounded (shot in the foot) and crawled back to call 911.

Then I guess he killed a few other teachers that tried to stop him, and then he shot himself.

His younger brother has been taken into custody.

Believe me, I get this. But propagating the stereotype of the mentally ill as violent criminals who need to be controlled is not the answer, which is all that line of thinking does in the end.

How does one describe someone capable of this? I'm genuinely curious, because I'm at a loss, because I agree with your point above but...

Is it disturbed? Sociopathic? Irrational (which I think is accurate for describing rage)?

Incidentally, I'd like to apologize for my use of the phrase "bugfuck crazy" earlier (I think that's what it was); it was a visceral response, but it was both glib and unthinking. I should have thought before posting.

Hec,

apparently the shooter's girlfriend and another friend are missing.

Was buzzed in with the rifle?

How does one describe someone capable of this?

I think until we know more, "evil" will pretty much cover it. No need to speculate on his mental state beyond that.

apparently the shooter's girlfriend and another friend are missing.

Jesus.

My armchair psychology suggests a narcissistic personality disorder. Somebody who feels entitled to take his wounding out on the world.

Was buzzed in with the rifle?

Could've been under a long coat?

This is the kind of gun he used.

He bought it legally.

But gun control is a bad thing. Ungoddamnbelievable.

How does one describe someone capable of this?

I think until we know more, "evil" will pretty much cover it. No need to speculate on his mental state beyond that.

Yup. You don't have to be clinically, diagnosably mentally ill to be evil. You just have to be evil.