Virginia Tech Report Cites Privacy Law Problems

RickRussellTX writes "A panel of Bush administration officials, including several bureau chiefs, concludes that confusing privacy laws contributed to the Virgina Tech shootings. The report claims that confusion over student privacy and medical privacy laws "has limited the ability of these officials to prevent the kind of violence that occurred at Virginia Tech.""

Comments

Re:diagnosis

[vorpal22]

Keep in mind that some high-functioning schizophrenics are likely to deliberately lead mental health professionals to believe that they are not schizophrenic because of the possible consequences. My best friend works in mental health, and they are very adamant that their "clients" take their medications, which often have very distressing and unpleasant side effects. For a schizophrenic who is able to lead a moderately productive life, the medications will probably be worse than the schizophrenia itself, and thus they may seek to hide their condition.

Re:Privacy shcmivacy

[Farmer Tim]

What country has sane gun laws? Japan? Australia?

If you care do do a bit of research you'd find that Australian gun laws changed after the Port Arthur Massacre, and semi-automatic weapons were banned. The results? No mass shootings since 1995.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/gun-deaths-in- rapid-decline-since-buyback/2006/12/13/11656857524 21.html

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/12/14/australia -gun.html

http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/ 12/6/365

http://www.physorg.com/news85298565.html

Now while it is true there's been an increase in armed robberies in Australia in the last 11 years, it must be remembered that it has always been illegal to carry handguns here, so there has never been the deterrent of an armed citizenry; the change in laws had absolutely no effect in that regard.