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The suspect’s family and the authorities identified his delusional mind and his recent violent behavior, but nothing was done. With better gun laws (background checks and the banning of assault weaponry), this man would never have been allowed to purchase this gun, and this horrific act might never have happened.

Our society’s failure to identify the dangerously mentally ill and put a stamp on their license prohibiting them from owning a gun has been hamstrung by HIPPA laws and our gun culture in general.

I sat on Gov. Bill Owen’s task force 20 years ago as a citizen, once every two weeks for two years with police chiefs, judges, lawyers, social workers, psychiatrists, and concerned citizens who involved themselves hoping for the formation of new legislation. The name of the task force: “The continuing examination of the mentally ill when they become involved with the criminal justice system.”

My last comment to the wonderful, caring people in this force was a request to change the website name to: “Recommendations on definitive legislation to properly treat the mentally ill before they become involved in the criminal justice system.”

The laws must change if we are to have any hope of forming a more civilized society. Families are the backbone of society, and we must treat the mentally ill as part of our family. There must be a greater emphasis on conflict resolution applied by qualified mediators and hired by our government to deal with this crisis of hatred. This pain will not go away with simple thoughts and prayers. The time to deal with this is now!

Rick Sutherland, Lyons