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[DC]
Accused Holocaust Museum Shooter Ruled Too Ill For Court
Washington Post
/June 16, 2009
A judge determined that octogenarian white supremacist James von Brunn, who was shot in the face after he allegedly opened fire inside the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, is in no condition to appear in court.
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on June 25th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
What a waste of medical resources to keep him alive when we have such a health care crisis in this country. The guard who was only 39 or 40 dies. The mean old man lives. Guess the saying is true. “Only the good die young.”
on June 25th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
My question is simple? Which hate group convinced (him) { can’t even write his name} to commit this hedeous act,knowing that he would not live long enough due to his age to under go the anticipated strained court proceeding.
on June 26th, 2009 at 7:44 am
It doesn’t surprise me that this ancient white supremacist couldn’t make it to court. The old man is 88 years old and wounded. I don’t support the fact that he should die right away and get off easy. I would like him to witness Justice being served smack square faced to his jaw. Seeing that Justice prevailed in the end before he dies with dishonor. Then its the end of this dark chapter for von Brunn.
on June 26th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Von Brunn has not been found incompetent to participate in his own defense. Prosecutor’s already are looking at later court appearances as Brunn’s physical recovery from his wounds improve.
Unlike dramatic fiction, real world successful pleas of incompetency, especially for psychiatric reasons are vary rare. I may well be preaching to the choir, but the court has a very narrow definition of mental incompetency. By my personal standards serial killers suffer from horrific mental illness. The court requires they prove the were / are incapable from differentiating right from wrong. The lengths these killers go to hide their crimes undoes any argument of right and wrong.
on July 1st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
To Doris ~ No medical resources are being wasted to keep the guy alive. He’s at home on bed rest and will be in Court soon, probably by the end of the month if not sooner. Read the full article.
To Da Wibb ~ This guy had his own website. It was in the news for days after the attack was made and the guard murdered. My guess, he knew he wasn’t going to live long or figured he would “suidice by cop” and go out in a blaze of glory for his cause.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
To MrsCaptJack, Who do you suppose is paying for what was done and what will need to be done now and in the future for this man? At his age, he is on medicare and what that doesn’t totally cover, he will be liable for if he has any funds. What article are you referring to? He was living alone from what I recall and his family had little to do with him. In the end if he goes to jail, the taxpayers will be paying for him for the rest of his life.
on July 2nd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
MrsCaptJack, Just read that article. He is not at home but at another medical facility. He was discharged from George Washington Hospital to United Medical Center.
on July 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 pm
So Doris, what’s your point (other than that the good die young)? It’s not a question of IF he goes to jail but when and where he’s held. I’m sure he thought he would die in a blaze of “glory”. Taxpayers will pay, period. The good news is that he’s 88 and in failing health. He will probably die before he’s served his full sentence, since it’s premeditated murder and he’ll most likely get life.
The health care crisis was not caused by situations like this, although they help, this is not the main cause of it.
on July 4th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
MrsCaptJack, My point is that he should have been allowed to die. We spend too much money at the end of life. This is a fact. We are in a health care crisis in this country and yes, this has contributed to it.
on July 5th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I don’t see anything in the article that says his injuries were life threatening. Yes, he was shot in the face but that isn’t always enough to kill a person unless the wound is allowed to go septic. I didn’t see anything that said he was put on life support at any time.
I agree we spend far too much money on health care and the fact that I have to fork out almost $300.00 a month for prescriptions demonstrates that well. Drugs cost too much, doctors charge too much and hospitals charge for a simple treatment as if you’d had major surgery for a cat bite.
With all that said, when it comes to the end of your life how will you decide? (It’s rhetorical.) When faced with the decision of life or death so clearly it is not so easy to decide not to spend the money (whether you have it or not) to stay breathing. We choose to stay living many times on the hope that the Divine will choose to end our lives while we are sleeping.
on July 6th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Many people, myself included, have made end of life decisions. My doctors are aware of my desires and so is my family. I forced my doctor to sign a DNR/DNI order for me and it is taped to my refrigerator. Am also a member of “Death with Dignity” and “Compassion and Choices”. Believe in physician assisted suicide for those who want it for terminal, painful illnesses. Being alive is more than just “breathing” to me. As a retired nurse, I have seen too many people being forced to live when death would have been a blessing. In regards to this case, I believe the man was intubated and on life support for a while. He is possibly in some sort of rehab facility at present and the last I heard still to ill to appear in court.
on July 7th, 2009 at 2:07 am
Doris, you missed my point. I’m glad you’ve talked to your family and have made your wishes known. Preparing Healthcare Directives is part of my job. That said, many people make one choice only to fear that choice in the end. That was my point and why the question was rhetorical. Until we are each at death’s door none of us can say, truly, what we would do ~ we can only say what we think we would do.