CULLMAN —
Jim Lee Dykes is dead, a fact that few people in Alabama are mourning after this man’s deadly crime spree.
More than a week ago, Dykes shot and killed a school bus driver in south Alabama, then kidnapped a child and held him hostage for six days in a bunker. As negotiations to free the child deteriorated, law enforcement officers stormed the bunker and killed Dykes. The child, fortunately, was rescued without suffering physical harm.
Dykes was reportedly a strange individual who had beaten a neighbor’s dog to death and was known to make others uncomfortable with his menacing stare. Sadly, many communities across the nation have a Jimmy Lee Dykes roaming free.
The condition of an angry, dangerous soul such as Dykes presents a daunting challenge for any community. In his case, anyone who knew him felt something was wrong, but apparently there was no basis to arrest the man.
Where violence of this type is concerned, stronger funding and action from the mental healthcare community becomes necessary. Many law enforcement officials are not convinced that tighter gun restrictions would have an impact on stopping the terror associated with deranged people. The issue that many public safety officials see is the need to spot troubled individuals before they cross the line into violent behavior.
The mistake in creating a safer society is to focus on only one aspect of the issue. Arguments that citizens should have access to the same weapons as the military are unfounded. Surely, every family doesn’t need a bazooka.
Implementing better control on the weapons that are made available for purchase is sensible. And so is the need to improve funding for mental healthcare in an effort to identify potentially individuals.
Editorials
EDITORIAL: Lurking in every community
- Editorials
-
-
Taking the lead in education
The once-heralded ‘No Child Left Behind” education initiative from the federal level has just about run out of gas.
-
Moving into the future
Hundreds of local high school seniors are accepting their diplomas and preparing to turn the page in the next chapter of their lives.
-
Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
This amounts to spying on an American news organization -- common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press.
-
EDITORIAL: The IRS' Turn to Answer Questions
Washington is now sinking its teeth into a real scandal: the Internal Revenue Service using ideological criteria to choose the targets of its attention.
-
Editorial: The house of death
The grisly details emerging from the murder trial of a Philadelphia abortion doctor place a glaring spotlight on a national disgrace.
-
Editorial: Murder, insanity and guns
James Holmes, the accused movie theater shooter in Colorado, would like for the public to believe he killed a dozen people because he was insane.
-
Lasting partnerships
Economic development officials have long noted the importance of expansions by existing industries and businesses in a community to lead growth.
-
COMMENTARY: Why does young adult fiction keep giving its heroines makeovers?
Over at This Ain't Living, s.e. smith (who, full disclosure, has guest-blogged for me at ThinkProgress) has an excellent post about one of the most pernicious trends in young adult fiction.
-
A spirit for moving forward
This weekend marked the two-year anniversary of a deadly day of tornadoes that streaked across Alabama, claiming lives and property and changing the landscape of many communities.
-
Faith and bombs
The investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing is pointing to the all-too-familiar theme of religious faith playing a major role in violence.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
Taking the lead in education
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
