Ariz Shooting Teaches Lessons Of Mental Health

Family and friends of alleged gunman Jared Loughner said the signs were there months before Saturday’s shooting.

“Some of them made jokes about how they were worried he’d come in one day with a gun,” said Stephen Kates, a former classmate of Loughner.

They had concerns, but never reported them to health officials or law enforcement.

If they had, Loughner may have been committed and treated.

In California, or any other states, citizens can report someone believed to be mentally unstable to health officials.

They could then undergo a mental health evaluation.

Law enforcement urge citizens to contact them if they believe the person has become a danger to himself or others.

“Often it seems that there are signs that someone is headed that way so we, of course, would encourage friends and family to try and find other methods to intervene before it gets that far,” said Chief Ray Gregory with the Coachella and La Quinta Police Department.

Law enforcement keeps track of the mentally unstable people they respond to.

Many states ban the mentally ill from buying or owning guns.

But on Tuesday, Sen. Barbara Boxer told reporters in Riverside there needs to be a better way to keep guns out of their hands.

“That people who are mentally unstable, have a criminal record, have abusive records toward their spouses, have threatened others, should not have access to guns,” said Boxer, (D) California.

But even if someone had reported Loughner, there’s no guarantee his alleged violence would have been stopped.