SHOOTING: Insanity by shooter, U.S.

I read about the horrific crime that took place in Carson City, Nev., recently. It was reported that a Mexican citizen with a U.S. passport went to an IHOP restaurant and shot a woman in the parking lot. He then proceeded into the restaurant with an AK-47 rifle and shot five National Guard troops in uniform, killing two and critically wounding three others. He then shot and killed another woman and then took his own life.

He was reported to have a history of mental illness and as a result, was receiving disability income and Social Security from our government. This begs the question: Why was a 32-year-old visitor from Mexico or any foreign national on a U.S. Visa receiving these payments? Outrageous.

When it was determined that he was incapable of self-support, why was he not left to his own devices, or better yet, have his passport canceled and deported back to Mexico rather than being put on the dole at the expense of U.S. taxpayers indefinitely? Hopefully, these payments he received were not the source of funds he used to purchase his weapon which killed and maimed our citizens.

Our social programs, as well as Social Security, are going broke. It is of little wonder when we pay all this financial support to foreign visitors, possibly for the rest of their lives, when they most likely have paid little or nothing into the programs. Charity begins at home. We can no longer support this policy, especially since it was reported that 43 cents of every dollar our government spends is borrowed, most of which is a loan from China.

JOHN WALSH

Coeur d'Alene