Bill Gwatney's murder highlights mental health issues and firearm control in one fell swoop...

We may never learn the exact reasons why Timothy Johnson (now dead) fired three fatal shots into Arkansan Democratic Party chair Bill Gwatney, but judging from the items seized from his home, we may have a good enough idea. The article states that "police are not discussing the product of the search", but they clearly speak for themselves: prescription anti-depressants and 14 guns owned by the "quiet loner known mostly for his passion for guns" who had little social interaction outside of a gun club, where he spoke only when spoken to, and even then only about his "hobby". A former co-worker notes that he was visibly distraught when fired from Target for writing batshit insane graffiti (ie: "This hall is too *** **** narrow", WHAT??) in his building's hallways, and that police were called, but there are incidentally no reports out there of someone telling the cops, "Oh by the way, this lunatic owns a shit ton of guns. Might want to check on that."

Johnson was characterized by neighbors as a quiet man meriting little to no recognition, and Target released a statement saying that he had no prior incidents during his two-year employment, so who could have seen it coming? There's a sister somewhere in the wings. She knows nothing.

Did you know that you can't join the military within one year of going off anti-depressants? Or the Peace Corps, within 8 months. But you CAN own 14 guns and all the ammo you can afford, as long as your prospective targets are domestic. Other victims of medicated gunmen? Virginia Tech students and faculty. Remember Columbine? How about the Omaha Killer who "just want[ed] to take a few pieces of shit with me"? Shortly before that, Lee Eisenberg took members of the Clinton campaign "hostage" at her New Hampshire headquarters demanding better access to mental health care.

The red flag continues to be ignored.

Here in SF it looks like we have more important fish to fry, what with our most important Battle for the Board and all. Last night's DCCC candidate endorsement meeting (still waiting on SweetMelissa do post about it; till then her previous post will have to do) went on until an unusually late hour (making me especially glad that I went to a yoga class, instead; I bet DCCC meetings don't end in 10 minutes of peaceful breathing exercises), but unfortunately made no mention of Bill Gwatney's untimely passing earlier in the day. So on behalf of SF's busy dem party, rest in peace, Chairman. May this tragedy shine some light on the two contributing factors to truly senseless violence and incite some much-needed dialogue on gun control.

P.S. Check out what this self-described "gun nut" and his gun-nutty continguent have to say on the topic. Don't want to? Let me digest it for you: regulate those over-medicated hissy fit queens, not our precious guns.