19 dead, 20 injured in knife attack outside Tokyo

[johan]

It's very clear that these people are simply sick.
It's not about knives or guns or trucks.

Agreed. But try mentioning that when was a gun was involved and count how long it takes for someone to yell at you for trying to deflect from the real issue of getting rid of guns. So fast it'll make your head spin.

Quick question: Are all these sickos depressed? Or does mental illness manifest itself in ways indistinguishable from "normal" people?

I'm asking if we can ever screen for potential first time mass killers? Stupid, I know, huh.

Well from all witness accounts one can find in cases like this, it would appear that for practical purposes, these sorts of mental illness do indeed manifest in ways indistinguishable from healthy people at least as far as could be discerned from normal social interaction. 
I suspect it could be screened successfully by professionals given enough time. But where does that get us? Do we require a 30-60 day stay in a facility for evaluation anytime someone wants to buy a gun or borrow a hunting knife or buy lots of fertilizer and diesel fuel?

If the answer is no, then this must be statistically considered normal human behaviour.
eg: 11% of the world is gay, .003% have murderous tendencies, 77% of Americans worship bacon, etc. Just humans doing the human thing.

Well I don't know that I would say that. Those with mental illness can and should be treated so just chalking it up as a portion of the population/part of the human condition seems a little dismissive. But the trick of finding those afflicted and getting them into treatment BEFORE they hurt anyone is no small feat. Building a bridge to the moon or digging a tunnel to China might be easier.

[downbeatplumb]

Not necessarily.  I cut me thumb peeling spuds about a week ago, and I'm not remotely suicidal.

Boru

No, but you got to torture and kill innocent, defenceless spuds.

Ah you've seen sausage party.

[CapnAwesome]

It took two pages for it become a gun control debate. That's one page more then I thought it would.

[Godscreated]

Lookout Obama will be after your steak knifes next, if he doesn't Hillary will.

GC

Yeah, great, 19 dead people are the perfect opportunity for a non-sequitur cheap shot about gun control?

 Well you all can spout all you want, I've been praying for the families and friends of those killed and injured. All I was doing was making a point that gun control isn't a solution for this craziness, only respect for others will change this kinda' crap.

GC

[Thumpalumpacus]

 Well you all can spout all you want, I've been praying for the families and friends of those killed and injured. All I was doing was making a point that gun control isn't a solution for this craziness, only respect for others will change this kinda' crap.

GC

Your praying ain't doing shit for those folks anyway. You may as well say "I've been masturbating for the friends and families ..." because that's what it is: you engaging in a solo activity for the purpose of making yourself feel better.

Don't trip, I jack off too ... I just have the decency to do it in provate.

[ignoramus]

I wonder if GC does it in front of God!

[Aegon]

I wonder if GC does it in front of God!

It's sort of hard not to when he's always watching you. I find that if you shout "OK IM GOING TO THE KITCHEN NOW" but sprint to the bathroom instead, you'll be able to get him off your tail for about 10 seconds or so

[Thumpalumpacus]

I wonder if GC does it in front of God!    

[Godscreated]

 Well you all can spout all you want, I've been praying for the families and friends of those killed and injured. All I was doing was making a point that gun control isn't a solution for this craziness, only respect for others will change this kinda' crap.

GC

Your praying ain't doing shit for those folks anyway. You may as well say "I've been masturbating for the friends and families ..." because that's what it is: you engaging in a solo activity for the purpose of making yourself feel better.

 I never pray to make myself feel good and I know you can't understand that because that's the only reason you would have for praying.

GC

[bennyboy]

Yeah, great, 19 dead people are the perfect opportunity for a non-sequitur cheap shot about gun control?

 Well you all can spout all you want, I've been praying for the families and friends of those killed and injured. All I was doing was making a point that gun control isn't a solution for this craziness, only respect for others will change this kinda' crap.

GC

Yes, adding more tools whose design is to cause death or injury into the general population couldn't POSSIBLY cause more death or injury in the population.  Who would think something crazy like that?