Crazy people should never have guns, knives or anything that could potentially harm another. A crazy person will find a way to inflict injury or cause death.
Eddie Ray Routh who murdered American hero Chris Kyle and Kyle's friend Chad Littlefield at a firing range proves my point again.
This is one of the tragedies of the year. Two intelligent, knowledgeable men, one who had survived horrific Middle East combat situations, were snuffed out of this life by a crazy man like Routh.
About an hour and a half into the drive, Chris Kyle was sitting in the driver's seat and he sent a text to Chad Littlefield who was sitting right next to him. He texts, "This dude is straight-up nuts," according to defense attorney Tim Moore from the Texas trial that is occurring. Moore said, "Chad Littlefield texts Chris Kyle back, "He's right behind me Watch my six,"(military lingo for watch my back). From this we have some insight into what Kris Kyle was thinking at the time.
According to Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash, Routh used two guns and shot Kyle five times in the back and side and once in the side of the head, using a 45-caliber pistol. He then shot Littlefield with a 9 mm pistol, four times in the back, once in the hand, once in the face and once in the head. A different 45-caliber pistol with all its rounds fired was found on the ground near Kyle's head, "Kyle had shot all the bullets in his gun when he was shot in the back," said Nash, referring to the fact Kyle had just fired at a target.
I own guns. I believe in the right to bear arms. I would shoot anyone trying to break into my house and harm my family. However, I do not want to be around crazy people with guns. Guns are never bad. People holding the guns make them either safe or deadly.
Do not try to rehabilitate a sick person by handing that person a gun or a knife or anything that might give them a window of opportunity to hurt themselves, you or anyone else. Mentally sick people can be helped many ways but giving them guns, knives or bombs is never the answer.
I saw the movie American Sniper. I believe Kris Kyle is a hero. I believe his death is a tragedy. The sad end of his life reminds us that we cannot help everybody. Some people can only be helped by medical professionals over a long period of time and then not always.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group, organization or this publication.
