Retired police chief urges coordinating profiles of shooters and the mentally ill

Mental illness and guns

As a retired chief of police with more than 45 years of law enforcement experience, the only thing I can say about school shooters is “mental illness”!

We have long overlooked this, dropping it in the laps of local law enforcement. It’s time it is addressed.

We developed specialized units to compile data on serial killers to analyze, track, arrest and assist in their prosecutions.

It is time for the FBI to develop a unit that specializes in compiling data on school shooters and share their findings with local law enforcement.

I believe the FBI has the expertise and personnel to develop an algorithm to search firearm purchase databases and compare this data with mental health records.

I further believe that the FBI should be mandated to provide local law enforcement agencies with profiles of discovered individuals for further investigation.

In the interim, we have billions of unspent dollars issued to cities and towns for COVID relief. This money should be directed to fund school security plans, train teachers and coordinate local law enforcement programs to enhance student safety. We could also place a trained officer in almost every U.S. school.

Our children are worth it.

Anthony Scott, St. Helena Island

Traffic laws matter

In 1951, I got my first drivers’ license and saved enough money to buy an old Studebaker coupe. After leaving high school one afternoon, I was stopped by Officer Meyers who gave me a ticket for slowing down but not stopping completely at two of the five stop signs in residential areas on my way home. When writing the ticket, he asked, “Do you think stop signs are just suggestions?”

Since that time, I have owned many cars, and have driven thousands of miles; however, I have never received a second ticket.

Why? Because, after receiving my first ticket, I took the time and effort to learn, respect, and strictly observe traffic laws--especially those related to stop signs, traffic lights, and speed limits.

So, like Officer Meyers asked me in 1951, let me ask you today, “Do you think current traffic laws are just suggestions?”

Hopefully, your answer is “No, the laws are much more than that!”

And, you might prophetically add: “They are there to make our traffic flow more safely, rapidly, and smoothly.”

Whenever we can, let’s remind everyone that “traffic laws are not just suggestions”!

Terry M. Frame, Columbia

Male accountability?

Abortion is being discussed by men and women all over our country, but I never hear any talk about male accountability. It’s almost as if a girl or woman becomes pregnant on her own.

It amazes me how so many people rail about big government forcing them to wear a mask, but are perfectly OK with the government forcing a girl or woman to have their entire body and hormones changed physically for nine months.They are forced to go through a mental and emotional trauma that will haunt them their entire life

Now, let’s discuss the male and the effect on his life. Zero.

Let’s talk about male accountability.

How about we make a law that it is unlawful for a man to have sex without a condom unless he is married. What about house arrest for the male for nine months?

All suggestions are welcome.

Linda Kalinowski, Chapin

Stress and schools

Stress causes mental illnesses. Schools are too stressful.

Different students have different levels of stress and different breaking points. Students are under too much stress from kindergarten through high school.

Students and teachers are being abused through schedules. Different students have different DNA and different stress levels. All students have their breaking points.

Patricia Milley, Conway