Just because the media has labeled Eddie Ray Routh, the alleged murderer of Chris Kyle, as a PTSD sufferer, we have no evidence as of yet, that PTSD had anything to do with this heinous act. Unfortunately, there are those that are going to become instant experts and blame this horrible affliction for Chris Kyle’s death. I urge all SSD readers to be patient and wait for facts before making judgements about PTSD. Our brothers and sisters who have PTSD deserve it.
Many of the men under my command have suffered PTSD and I sympathise with all who do, and while I have known some of them to unfortuantely commit suicide I have not known any of my men to commit murder. That’s not to say it’s not possible, but I agree with SSD on that we should wait for the facts.
Jumping to conclusions in a situation like this will not solve anything or help anyone. All we can do is lend our thoughts to Chris’ family and friends at this difficult time.
RIP Chris, you’ll be sorely missed by many.
Agreed, and the last thing a warrior suffering from PTSD would want to do is turn on someone who has suffered through the same battelfields/war as they did. At least, that’s how I feel.
I have PTSD, and I’m one who doesn’t use it as a crutch. I don’t use it as an excuse for my actions, and I do everything I can to make sure its not who I am. Unfortunately, there are people who use it as an excuse, or as a basis for their anti war agendas. This incident should be used as an example of why the VA needs better funding for mental health treatment, if anything. My local one was so bad, and I live in a big city, that I sought outside treatment on my own. Other veterans are fed up with it too. As an LEO, I’ve come in to contact with a lot of veterans with PTSD, who feel they ran out of options. I try and get to the calls involving them because it just makes it easier when they have another sufferer there talking to them. Most of the time, they just want to talk about what’s bothering them with someone who understands. If we can get better, and more readily available help, it may curb some of these incidents, if that is actually what caused it.
I agree completely with what you say about the VA. Having spent eleven years working at a VA hospital I saw what individuals with PTSD had to go through. Whether it was jumping through a million hoops to receive disability or something as simple as getting an appointment to have their medications adjusted. The VA I worked at is just now getting a true mental health facility. I think one of the biggest factors is that there is a stigma about PTSD and it even carries through to hospital personnel. IF there was a patient with PTSD who is having problems, they would be treated by some as drug seekers, problem patients, hateful, or just plain assholes. Instead of seeing this as a sign of their frustration, symptoms, or that they simply need someone who understands; we call security, warn every person that has to deal with them, talk about them behind their backs or are just as much of an asshole. We take what they say and their behavior personally. I think that it’s just as important to train medical personnel who are not in the mental health profession so that the stigma of any mental health illness is eliminated.
Evil is evil, PTSD or not. It was no different at Sandy Hook, just plain old evil.
Unfortunately, I suspect this will cause something of a perfect storm for gun control, mental health and conspiracy theories. I hope the people with eloquent, informed opinions and the patience to articulate such will take the time to speak out in the coming weeks.
The diagnostic term, “PTSD” is an utter falsehood, for starters…at least when we discuss post combat. It is not a disorder for human beings to return from a period of time during which they have been engaged in hunting other humans – and being hunted themselves – and present as “changed” or “different” than they were before they did so. It is one thousand percent normal to experience changes in behavior and/or thought process.
This excuses nothing, however. It may go so far as to make a given mode of behavior understandable, but it does not give anyone a free pass to go perform a harmful act.
PTS can manifest itself in as many different ways as there are minds, literally. It can be marital infidelity in one instance, to “reckless” vehicle operation (e.g. swerving to get away from roadside debris, etc) in another, to engaging in physical confrontation at the drop of a hat, to any number of other things.
It is the responsibility of the affected – and in my own opinion, the responsibility of their loved ones and unit mates – to seek help in the event of noticing changes of a potentially harmful nature. I find it a tragedy whenever bad things happen to good people, but in incidents that occur because a person went to do their country’s bidding, it seems doubly wrong.
To any service persons who take the time to read this ramble, please watch your buddies just like you did and do downrange. Their lives depend on you just as much in garrison as they do in theater, and you honestly CAN make a positive difference in theirs and their loved ones’ lives if you get them to care if it’s needed.
This is so tragic I met Chris not that long ago he came thru a training facility that I work for. Before coming in I ran home to get my 10 year old daughter so she could met an all American hero. My respect for Chris grew 110% as my daughter went up shook his hand and asked if he wated a little shooting competition. The time he spent at our training facility, Chris was most impressed with my daughter and spent more time talking with her. As he was leaving my daughter asked for his autograph and as he signed the paper for her she slipped him a picture that she drew. He huged her and later that night he posted it to his Facebook page thanking her. As I said true American hero (this coming from a man who spent 8 years in the Army) this is the type of guy I wanted my daughter to meet. I mean no disrespect to anyone here but I hope this does not turn into another way to charge after guns or the second amendment. We lost a great man a father a soldier friends and a mentor. He will be missed, thank you Chris for taking time to show me a few things as well as my daughter.
I would like to know if the killer was on any psychotropic drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist… The DRUGS seem to be the common denominator in these type of shootings…
Rmpl