In a horrific tragedy out of DC, Albert Peterson, a defense contractor, shot his wife and two sons before turning the gun on himself. The 57-year-old man was said to struggle with paranoia and with increasing worry over the state of this country. According to the Daily Mail, the final straw was Obama's probable re-election.
If that's true (and it's still a big if), then it really does show just how truly warped people are about this election. Obviously, if it's true, there is also some mental illness. After all, who on Earth would kill his beautiful teen sons and wife just because of an election? But even the Washington Post says the family wasn't having money troubles, and Peterson's main concern seemed to be the economy and that he was "worried about politics" and wasn't able to let things slide off his back very easily.
Things are bad. It's true. But they aren't that bad.
The idea that this man believed that his family would be so hurt by Obama that they were better off dead is frightening, indeed. Now, granted, there was a history of mental illness in the family. According to the Mail, both his brother and father had also committed suicide.
Furthermore, there is no assumption about all Republicans based on this one man's depraved acts. But this is a lesson for all of us, Dems and Republicans alike. No matter how intense and ugly this election cycle is, none of this is life or death. No one would be better off dead than living through a President they didn't choose.
Obviously there is more to this story than just the election, and this would be an awful tragedy even if there were no motive at all. But the motive and Peterson's alleged thinking do sort of give us pause.
Just how seriously are we taking all this? Can we take a step back and understand that nothing is worth hurting anyone? If not, maybe we should be seeing a professional.
It's impossible to know what signs Peterson's family did or didn't see. Obviously people knew he was passionate about the election and the state of the country, but maybe they just saw a person who is normal, but passionate about politics. Maybe. It's hard to say.
What we do know is that a beautiful family is dead, and no matter what the "reason" is, there is no excuse. I am quite certain that, given the choice, Peterson's wife and two sons would have chosen life. Even with Obama as President.
Tragically, he didn't give them that choice. My heart breaks for this whole family, regardless of whether or not the Obama part is true. This is just sickening.
Do you think this story could be true?
Image via jayneandd/Flickr
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Comments 38
This happened not far from me. It is so, so sad. This was mental illness. Politics and other issues were only the manifestation of the deeper seated problem. If it hadn't been politics, it would have been something else.
How awful. :(
What a terrible thing. My best thoughts and prayers to the remaining members of this family. What a tragedy.
You're glad he's dead jalaz? What a terrible thing to say about someone who was mentally ill. Shame on you.
I also agree that there were mental issues here. And paranoia is part of it all. It's very very sad. My heart hurts for the family.
It's sad that they are gone.... he should have atleast waited until he knew for sure the US was going to hell. He could still be alive and maybe after the elections were over things could have had a turn around and gotten better...
How sad that this happened. But if it was known that there was some kind of mental illness shouldn't he have been taken care by going to dr. everyday? I know that might not have prevented this tragedy from happening but it might have helped.
Also I, too, agree that jalaz77 shouldn't have said "Glad he is dead". He was sick and yes he did a terrible thing but he didn't realize what he was doing.
I think it was totally a mental illness issue and not a political or economic issue.