Madman’s bloody cleaver rampage is yet another case for expanding involuntary commitment
A nightmare played out in Brooklyn over the weekend — fresh proof of the horrific consequences of state lawmakers’ refusal to embrace Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reforms and get the severely mentally ill the treatment they need.
In an unthinkable ordeal, four girls, ages 8 to 13, were brutally slashed with a meat cleaver by a male relative inside a Bensonhurst home Sunday morning.
Thankfully, all survived after the police arrived and shot the suspect, Long Qian Chen. But the girls will surely live with the emotional and physical scars for a very long time.
Like countless nightmare-makers before him, Chen had a history of mental illness, including reported hospitalization for schizophrenia.
Every foot-dragging lawmaker who’s squeamish about “forcing” the dangerously mentally ill into treatment should view the bone-chilling photos of the crime scene.
Chen is exactly the type of person whom involuntary commitment is supposed to be for — a clear danger to himself and others.
But health care providers are far too meek about checking threats like Chen into long-term care.
Hochul would give hospitals more freedom (and legal cover) to hold and treat the seriously mentally ill, and let not just docs but psychiatric nurse practitioners recommend involuntary commitment.
But lefty lawmakers balk at the idea of hospitalizing even the most obvious headcases, and progressive groups are shelling out big on lobbyists to pressure legislators into rejecting Hochul’s reforms.
One such outfit, the Alliance For Rights and Recovery, audaciously claims, “These proposals will traumatize more New Yorkers.”
Does an attack with a meat cleaver count as “traumatizing”?
How about getting shoved in front of a subway train by a maniac who’s talking to herself?
Or sexually assaulted by a madman with 70 prior arrests?
Or stabbed in the chest by an emotionally disturbed neighbor?
Even if these supposed bleeding hearts can’t bring themselves to think about these victims, do they really believe that being free to carve up kids during a possible episode was a “more compassionate” outcome for Chen than being hospitalized and treated, even against his will?
New Yorkers certainly don’t think so: Nearly 90% support expanding involuntary commitment.
The state failed these four youngsters by letting Chen slip through the cracks, but the way to prevent future bloodbaths is painfully obvious.
Stop the madness — pass and enforce stronger involuntary commitment laws.
