To the editor:

“See something. Say something.” We are encouraged to do so when a crime has been committed and the perpetrator’s whereabouts are unknown.

What can be done if words of violence toward others are heard or if the person speaking is suicidal? The school shooting in Minneapolis, and other school shootings often involve the shooter sharing his plans with others beforehand.

While a person cannot be arrested before a crime is committed, if you “Hear violent plans. Report violent plans.” A police officer does have the authority to have a mentally disturbed or suicidal person evaluated by a doctor. The Marshall police officer I spoke with stated, “Depending on the circumstances, the policy is to have such a person taken to the emergency room to be evaluated by a doctor.”

It can be difficult for a parent or friend to think of reporting a child’s/ friend’s questionable talk but doing so keeps that person safe as well as possibly saving the lives of others.

Much has been said about the “right to bear arms.” I have always thought, when the Second Amendment was passed, men were thinking about the use of guns to protect our country– an “armed militia”, or, of course, for hunting animals for food. Now guns are daily used to vent anger. Is there anything that can be done to keep guns out of the hands of angry, disturbed people?

For the sake of saving lives, perhaps a gun owner could request the name and phone number of a family member or employer to use as a background check before a gun is purchased. Background checks are commonly done before someone is hired. Couldn’t we agree to a background check before getting a gun — for the greater good of making our schools, our streets, our stores and our homes a safer place to be?

May all those who are grieving, have the comfort that death has been conquered by the death of God’s Son, Jesus. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6: 23).

Trudy Madetzke

Marshall