Concur. My grandfather was a cop in a small town in the 30s. If someone pulled a knife on a cop, they got shot or a beatdown- regardless of the reason. It was a prophylactic against future violence.
The difference is that the crazy people were sent away or kept at home (no drugs back then), and an article like this would have never been picked up by national news.
I believe the saying was "Control your freaks, or we will."
You are exactly right. I just shake my head at the closing of all the mental institutions. People who need mental therapy are winding up in prison, and this makes them worse.
Trust me, there is a lot of folks who need mental health in the world, especially in impoverished areas.
“...crazy people were sent away or kept at home...”
Yep, old school. Now they’re all over, creating physical and social danger.