IMO this incident isn't about gun control, racism, etc. The kid had obvious mental issues and gave plenty of warnings through his prior actions. However, by law there is very little you could do to detain someone who's nuts beyond the typical 72 hour observation period. By law most city's department of mental health cannot detain an adult beyond 72 hours without showing that the person is an immediate threat to himself or others.
I've known a girl from Texas who threatened her ex BF in San Diego with a knife. She was detained and later released after the ex BF refused to file charges. A year later, she broke into another ex BF's house in Los Angeles and threatened to kill him then herself with a knife. Again she was detained and sent to City of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, where she was held for 72 hour observation and released. Again the ex BF refused to file charges and the police did nothing.
Jeff Head had mentioned the right to bear arms, but I think that's an "external" right where the government can only take away your guns. How about your rights in mental health (internal) issues? I've known several people who REALLY should receive treatment, and I mean they are NUTS. But do you want the government to have the power to detain you indefinitely and forced to accept various treatments that may include everything from pills to electrical shocks, just because someone reported you as being crazy, and a psychologist agrees with them? Should your school and employer have access to your confidential medical files?
I'm not arguing with you . Remember Muhammad and Malvo who gunned down 10 people in the Metro DC area in late 2005? Their faces were plasterd all over the media for weeks & months. Last I checked they were black. No backlash against Blacks as being crazy pyso killers. How about Jeffery Dohmer?? Who not only murdrered his victims but took a few bites out of them? His grill certianly was all over the media. No backlash there against young white men. And what about Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold? The Colombine killers. Their faces were in the media for years....Still are from time to time.