In some areas of the country, the ACLU has strongly opposed these courts, claiming they are ‘discriminatory’.
My opinion is that an individual who goes into combat for our country and comes home a significantly changed individual, and subsequently gets “in trouble” deserves to be treated better than a ‘common’ or ‘career’ criminal. Particularly if that individual has well documented PTSD and has no criminal history.
These men and women have experienced and endured situations that we, as everyday Americans, cannot begin to comprehend. The unseen wounds of war are deep.
As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rage on and troops are returning home, there is not a day that goes by that somewhere in our country a tragic event occurs that involves a Veteran of one of these wars.
These incidents are only going to increase – our country, and our judicial system is not ready for this.
I am tired of reading the opinions of some individuals who state that PTSD is an excuse. Early on after this horrible tragedy occurred with Pat, I was on the internet searching for information when I came across a site called “PTSD: A Solider’s Mind” (Do not confuse this with Scott A. Lee’s “PTSD: A Soldier’s Perspective” )
The person who posts on this site professes to be someone who works on a large military facility and interacts with individuals who have PTSD. This person also states that they were formerly law enforcement. However, there are many comments made by this individual which make one wonder if that is true, and if this person truly has any understanding of what these soldiers are experiencing. In part, this person wrote:
(for the complete posting and comments go to:) http://soldiersmind.com/2008/10/11/when-ptsd-is-an-excuse
“The one thing that I want to stress here, is that just because someone is suffering from PTSD, doesn’t mean that they don’t know the difference between right and wrong and it doesn’t mean that they don’t have control over their behavior. If we allow them to use that as a crutch and an excuse their behavior, honestly I don’t see them bettering themselves. Instead, we’re inviting them to stay stuck in that behavior and never taking personal responsibility for their actions. We’re telling them that it’s okay for them to break the law or do bad things, because they have a mental disorder. That’s just not acceptable.”
“Yes, PTSD is very real and can be life changing, however, with help, those suffering from PTSD can get better and can lead a normal life. So let’s empower them to get better, instead of helping them to continue to wallow in a pit of self pity and use their PTSD as an excuse for everything they do and everything that happens to them.”
Sue Lamoureux on October 12th, 2008 4:18 pm
I read this post and was shocked at what I was reading. Perhaps there are some soldiers returning from Iraq/Afghanistan who do use PTSD as a ‘crutch’.
To even make a slight inference that this is commonplace is appalling.
One must remember that every human psyche is different, and what impacts someone on a certain level, will impact another person on a completely different level. We are all human beings and we are all different. What makes you ‘tick’ does not make the rest of humankind ‘tick’.
My husband is rated at 70% for PTSD through the VA. This is a very high, and very real rating. He has undergone continuous treatment since he returned from Iraq. He has not used this as a ‘crutch’. He has made every effort to return to a normal life since he returned from Iraq. Perhaps you should go spend some time in Iraq and witness and live through the horrors of war on a first hand level.
To insinuate that soldiers are wallowing ‘in a pit of self pity’ and using ‘their PTSD as an excuse for everything they do and everything that happens to them’ is abominable.
You have insulted many soldiers and their families. Many families are facing life changing situations brought on by the effects of the war and PTSD. To minimize and downplay the severity of PTSD is unconscionable.
You owe an enormous apology to countless soldiers and their families.
This person is how Scott Lee and I “met”.
After I responded to this person’s posting, Scott came in and posted a blazing response as well. For those of you who have not visited Scott's site, he is a very eloquent writer.
There were many comments that followed, but recently I revisted this site, and found a new comment that posted:
§ a real veteran in every iraq stand since 1990 -01 on July 2nd, 2009 5:38 pm
To Sue Lamoureux. a crutch! oh my its not the fault of the veteran who knows its wrong to shoot a civil servant of the law called to aid in the defense of innocent people who also probably have the ptsd that which you referred too. But what about shooting a officer of the law twice in the side and the chest while the law providing an out for your wonderful man that had served faithfully to his country and getting hit in the LEGS or poor baby grow up!!! let your wonderful caring man you speak of that cannot do any wrong pay for his crimes. weather here or in the deserts of iraq pick yourself up dust yourself off and put the psycho in the ward where he needs to be until competant and than pay for his crimes of life let the freedom bell ring for those who believe in god country and the people.
* * * *
(I wonder where this person read the officer was shot in the chest?)
The average American cannot begin to understand the psychological changes that occur when PTSD is involved. For anyone to call Pat Lamoureux a “psycho” shows the level of their ignorance.
Recently there has been much media coverage concerning the growing problems with active duty military and medication issues. The VA reported in Healthcare Inspection: Review of Veterans Health Administration Residential Mental Health Care Facilities, that the VA's inspector general concluded that some in-patient psychological and psychiatric programs lacked adequate staff, oversupplied patients with potentially harmful medications and failed to monitor patients' adherence to treatment plans both in the hospital and after discharge.
Our active duty military is being over medicated; in-patient Veterans are being over medicated. Are we as Americans to be so naïve to believe that our Veterans walking the streets are not being over medicated too? You take an individual who has suffered severe psychological damage, and fill them with mind altering drugs - what do you think is likely to happen? Perhaps they will react in a way that “society” views as unacceptable?
So when our Veterans become entwined in the criminal justice system, shouldn’t all the factors be weighed in their cases? Shouldn’t they be held in a different light than those who are repeat offenders who have never been productive citizens? Shouldn’t our Veterans be given a second chance to redeem themselves in society?
The problem with the Veteran’s Courts is – they are aimed at non-violent offenders.
In the structuring of these courts – which while I applaud the concept of these courts – I wonder why is it they are aimed at non-violent offenders? These Veterans aren’t out shop-lifting……….
So I am putting a poll on the blog site. It is anonymous, and will only produce numbers. I want to know how YOU view cases involving our Veterans.
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