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STOP the "Shoot First" and ask questions later law in Illinois
An Open Letter to Governor Blagojevich
December 9, 2005

Dear Governor Blagojevich,

My life was threatened on 2 separate occasions by the same person. He has a history of murdering 3 people, paranoid schizophrenia, severe delusions, being undomiciled, non-compliance with medications and out-patient treatment, alcohol and substance abuse.

I was deeply frightened and disturbed by these assaults on my life and even more so for my family.

However, I have always been for gun control and so it stands to reason that I would vehemently object to a “Shoot First” and ask questions later law that already exists in the state of Florida.

I realize my family and I are extremely lucky to have survived. Still, I hope this human being is receiving treatment and being monitored in our society.

What if this person shot and killed me or worse, my family, and claimed he did it because he perceived me to be a threat to his life? Remember he’s paranoid, refuses to take medications, abuses alcohol and drugs and therefore lives in a delusional world.

He lives in this condition because he is not being monitored and adequately cared for in the community. This substandard treatment doesn’t allow mental health professionals to observe the patient as he decompensate due to abstinence from medications, out patient treatment, alcohol/substance abuse or psycho-social stressors. Here in lies part of the problem.

I was a practicing Registered Nurse and Respiratory Therapist because I believe in healing as a first resort. NOTE THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE PERCEIVED IRAQ TO BE A THREAT BEFORE THEY ENGAGED IN A WORLD CAMPAIGN OF SHOCK AND AWE!

STOP the “SHOOT TO KILL FIRST” law in Illinois. Our government has no business lobbying, advertising and advocating for guns and ammo or any other private corporations.