Gun permits, troubled minds, individual rights, decisions made despite disturbing information known, and injury and death from violence — all issues which came together March 10 at a mobile home park in North Liberty.

Another existential moment in time and place where events unravel quickly. The dead young man, another University of Iowa graduate student, seemingly bright with some very troubling issues. Enough that UI officials cautioned authorities in issuing a gun permit to him. The Johnson County sheriff’s office had issued the permit in 2010. Interestingly enough not long ago, the Johnson County sheriff discussed how he found himself in a legal position whereby he had to issue weapons permits to individuals who should not have one. So once again, an individual “goes off” with a gun and ends up dead with others injured, when UI officials and a law enforcement agency had serious doubts concerning the issuance of the permit.

In no way am I downplaying this tragic event, yet I remember November 1991 at UI. We had two children on campus as students at that time. We are familiar with the horrific events which seem to occur with guns every day in this nation. The mobile home park could have been Coral Ridge or the UI campus. It amazes me how we can have all of the information we need to make rational decisions now and then, but walk away and then seem dumbfounded when something goes horribly wrong.

Jack Pilling

Cedar Rapids