Murder-suicide eyed in death of Pa. family of five, including tot with new heart

[billh58]

SINKING SPRING, Pennsylvania - A Pennsylvania couple who were featured in news stories about their difficulties getting medication for their youngest daughter who had a heart transplant were found shot to death in their home along with their three children.

Prosecutor John Adams says an apparent "murder/suicide" note was found in the family's Sinking Spring home Saturday. Police found a handgun near one of the adults. They didn't say who they believe was the shooter.

Officials say the parents had had "domestic issues." Police had gone to the home to check on the family after a call from a concerned relative who said the mom did not show up for a pre-arranged lunch date.

The victims were identified as 40-year-old Mark Short Sr., 33-year-old Megan Short; 8-year-old Lianna, 5-year-old Mark Jr., and 2-year-old Willow.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/murder-suicide-blamed-death-singing-springs-pennsylvania-short-family-five/

Another permanent solution to a temporary problem made possible by easy access to a gun. Yeah, he could have used lawn furniture, or a swimming pool, or a knife, but the gun was so much more convenient -- and so final.

Actually, there were six victims: he shot the family dog too.

[Mika]

1. Agree w/your point, but, we really need a full coverage universal H/C system.

So much long term stress and pressure can put some people over the edge.

Shockingly sad story.

[billh58]

2. Even with universal health care,

intervention would have been to first step: take away the gun. This is what gun control advocates have been calling for all along, but the right-wing gun lobby and their apologists claim that would be a violation of rights. They claim to believe that increased access to mental health care would solve the problem of these kinds of tragedies and most suicides.

So in the end, what immediate good would universal health care do in a volatile situation like this? Would forced psychological counseling at the early stages of the relationship be mandated? How would a family member be forced to undergo a medical examination? The answer is that at the first sign of instability, and if there is a gun in the house, the law should allow the police to remove the gun, and THEN mental health care can be started.

The Second Amendment absolutists call for better health care would have little bearing on someone who "snapped" and killed their family, or committed suicide because of a sudden (or rapidly festering) upheaval in their lives. Easy access to a gun has been proven to be a factor in family-related or close relationship murders, and most suicides. Removing the most obvious means to kill or injure should be the first step in any intervention process.

[Mika]

4. Apparently the stress of affordable medical care was huge.

That is the angle of approach I was referring to.
Without the overwhelming stress of a sick child and not enough money to care for her, the entire cycle of financial stress would have been removed. Plus, getting psychological care would have been available w/o increasing their medical costs.

[mahina]

3. Healing to the first responders who had to see that.

I just trashed the gun forum.

Prayers up, and working legislation for universal single payer health care including mental health.

[billh58]

5. I trashed that swamp long ago

and I agree that universal single payer health care is a step in the right direction. The ability to legally remove a gun from a troubled environment is just as important in cases like this one, in my opinion.

A hui hou, malama pono from Maui.

[mahina]

6. Aloha no Bill58

Nice to meet you!

I just moved back to CD 2 and voted yesterday

[billh58]

7. Nice to meet you as well.

CD2 on Oahu, or Neighbor Island? I've been voting "absentee" since they allowed it, and it is great.

Aloha no,
Bill

[mahina]

8. Oahu. Happy to vote for Shay Chan Hodges

Windward side votes with you folks.

Re absentee voting, me too, but I moved. Rules and stuff. I registered for permanent absentee voting again yesterday. Frees me up for last minute gotv and sign waving, etc.

Thanks for hipping me to the gun control reform activism group. That's the way to go.