General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: If we don't focus on the mentally ill how are background checks supposed to work? [View all]Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)You don't get to wave away people's rights and tell them to settle for less by fiat. Someone who is no threat to you is just that -- no threat to you or anyone else. You do not get to invade their lives and dictate terms to them under the fiction of "the greater good." Every tinpot two-bit pissant tyrant claims "the greater good." And I bet if a pried hard enough I could find your pressure point where you squeal "Individual rights! Individual rights!"
You can walk around paranoid about 80 million people who have no ill will towards you if you want but that is your choice and it's a damned silly choice at that. You can ignore the handful of mentally ill who are actually a threat but that too is a damned silly choice and inhumane to those who need help.
Assuming you're really in it for the greater good.