>> Appalling the lack of understanding of the issue here on FR.
What do you mean by “lack of understanding”?
You’re making a generalization that may not apply to Lanza. Did both parents, given their resources, give the proper attention to the troubled child they both created? As far as I’m concerned, it’s not enough to say the parents’ responsibilities are limited to what the govt is willing to provide especially when financial resources are available.
By “lack of understanding” I mean simply that no family can force treatment on a legal adult without their consent. It doesn’t matter how much money that family has. And it’s not about what the “government is willing to provide,” other than legal authorization to get the perp off the streets before he kills someone.
It’s about somehow making it legally allowable to intervene, to force someone into treatment before they hurt others. But pre-emptive action brings up all kinds of First Amendment issues.
There’s got to be an answer, but we don’t have it yet.
I can’t know how much effort the Lanza family put into getting adequate help and intervention for their son. I do know FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE that such an individual can make life living hell for a family and that such people can endanger a community despite the very best efforts of a family.