Blame for mental health issues needs to be aimed in the right direction. While most people with mental problems aren’t dangerous, as a group, these people are definitely the most dangerous element in society.

I retired from police work and spent plenty of time dealing with these problems, including attempts on my life. A member of my family was attacked and nearly died in a doughnut shop in New Hampshire. The perpetrator in that case had stabbed another stranger three years earlier.

I could go on and on with real-life stories about this issue.

The undiagnosed do present a problem, but we need to get serious in the treatment for those who have been diagnosed to require medications. The latter are now allowed to decide if they will take their meds. Common sense dictates their choice should be to continue medication or be institutionalized.

They should have a guardian who is in frequent contact, as in a family member when possible. That guardian should only need to report to police that the individual is off medication. At that point, police should be able to take the individual into custody to be returned to a treatment center for stabilization before injury to themselves or others.

Dwight Mills, Greenwood