Prevention key to stopping murders
As we all know, we have recently witnessed mass murders at Virginia Tech, and now Northern Illinois University by mentally unstable individuals.
It is apparent, as one who grew up in a day and age when we never thought about mass murders at any school we attended, this is a shock to our system of beliefs. Because there will never be enough security guards who will be lucky enough to be present to stop such episodes in the future, the only reasonable approach is a preventative approach.
I suggest that the laws of each state and the federal government be changed to mandate that any medical facility, including hospitals, clinics, doctors, etc., who come into knowledge that a given patient might become violent or exhibit suicidal tendencies, notify all local and federal authorities, so they can take the necessary precautionary steps.
Although this may presently conflict with privacy issues concerning medical treatment of patients, nevertheless, our governmental entities are in existence to protect the population as a whole. They are not in existence to protect homicidal maniacs. Therefore, the law should provide that any medical facility who fails to report will be held responsible for not only consequential damages, but punitive damages.
In addition, any governmental entity that fails to take appropriate action once notified, will also be responsible for consequential and punitive damages and there will be no governmental immunity. Further, that the laws of institutionalization of the patients who exhibit such tendencies should be relaxed.
In conclusion, when one sends their child to school, we want to ensure that they come home. Insurance companies, who insure the relevant entities shall be mandated to provide a defense, but shall not be obligated to pay the consequential or punitive damages as a result of the insured liability. This provision can be made a condition precedent for any insurance company that wishes to write any type of insurance in a given state.
Steven R. Heuberger
Libertyville