Comments on: Perspective on a suicide

By: David C.

David C. — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:08:35 +0000

So, out of the 30,000 suicides and 750,000 suicide attempts yearly how many of these are IRS/government related? Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:43:32 +0000

At the risk of going off-topic, Mr. Stack’s rage at the IRS was mis-directed. The IRS is a government agency tasked with implementing Internal Revenue Code as passed by the legislature, i.e our honorable Senators and Congressmen. I hold no ill-will toward the IRS, even when I feel screwed by the tax code. Stack’s, and our, ire should be directed to our representatives to change the tax code in ways that make sense to fund government operations fairly. The poor schleps at the IRS are only trying to do their job, and in most cases I have been involved in, do it professionally. Let’s all lighten up on our federal workers, eh? Some of them are your neighbors.

By: Cody A.

Cody A. — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:11:15 +0000

Wow, I was just reading what Dean Phillips wrote. What an idea! A national General Aviation Open House! Hey Mr. Fuller, anyway you could start making this happen? There are so many people out there who may be saying that GA poses a threat and stuff but its probably because they dont see things out in the light. So many people are unaware of the role GA plays in America, In my local area I have met people who have lived here for most of thier lives and when I say Im taking flight lessons at the local airport they say “What Airport?” They didnt even know it was there! And Im sure that is the case all over the country. Something needs to be done about it.

By: John J

John J — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:55:58 +0000

If there was a rule that could have prevented Stack from using his Piper, you wouldn’t have prevented the attack. If you had banned every airplane from the sky, he would have found a simpler and more effective method to carry out his misguided mission.

By: Stewart Walker

Stewart Walker — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:08:16 +0000

Permanent solution to a temporary problem. IRS problems are not worth dying for. Make pilots look like freaky ticking time bombs…

By: Dean Phillips

Dean Phillips — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:26:35 +0000

The perception of GA in the media is that Pilots/AircraftOwners are seen as”the haves” by a number of those that are “have-nots” in Journalism. Class warfare-used by liberals in is being encouraged in the current Administration and their Party. If you’re no part of the “95%” you are part the problem. So, the GA safety issue is the Trojan Horse to be used to clamp down on us. It’s an excuse for those who want to limit our freedom to fly, live independent lives. Environmentalists are also, hoping to make us go away. What with 100LL, Jet A useage. I agree that we need to learn from the NRA’s experiences as AOPA members.We night need their PR assistance and membership strength. To be 1/2 of 1% of the public that puts us at a serious deficit in numbers. With a dwindling number of new pilots coming to GA, it’s only going to get harder.

We are all-student pilots-private pilots-aicraft owners- ambassadors to the public for General Aviation. How can we collectively have conversation wtih the public in our individual communities? Currently, the public is seeing us as guys and gals in the private country club with the high wall and security guards. We need to drop that image. The AOPA campaign how GA benefits communities campaign is a good first start. letting the public know that 40% of the Haiti relief flights were from GA volunteering their time, aircraft and money helps. We need to keep getting the good work we do out in a more consistent way. Perhaps, a National Community Open-House at our respective airports/FBOs would be a good first step. Let’s show our community who we are as individuals.

By: Dale

Dale — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:25:10 +0000

What happens to LSA medical requirements? Knee-jerk re-actions will end up undoing a good thing for entry-level pilots.

By: TexasPilot

TexasPilot — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:35:34 +0000

“left wing nut jobs”

Sigh.

And what of the “right wing nut jobs” who daily rage against our “evil government”?

Stack’s suicide note could have been excerpted from the transcript of many of these broadcasts. His act (as many have pointed out, and as our AOPA president chose to ignore) was not simply a suicide, but a deliberate and considered attack on our government, an attack on Our Country.

Sad it is to see America so divided that even its pilots cannot recognize common ground, or common sense.

You need both wings to keep the plane in the air.

By: W FULLER

W FULLER — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:38:19 +0000

I cannot understand why any Federal Government office or high value target would be housed in facilities that are designed as lightly as an office building with glass facade. In this day, with numerous groups targeting our government, I feel that there are more secure facility designs. Concrete structures along with strategic locations are the only remedy to future attacks by groups or loners in planes, trucks, etc.

By: J. Howard

J. Howard — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:23:43 +0000

There is no point offending Mr. Fuller for attempting to make the best of a “No Win” situation. Reminds me of conservatives who can’t get along…
Many have mentioned Oklahoma City and the Ryder rental truck. Do we recall that the original 1993 attack on the World Trade Center was carried out by an ordinary van. An article I read recently stated that had the terrorists planned ahead simply to place the van/bomb next to a pillar, the tower would have come down. We would be decrying 1993 instead of 9/11, with a much higher death toll.
Would there be a cry for more CONTROL of vans? Not likely. More control is always about “Control” and little more.
Concerning whether Mr. Stack was mentally ill: Had he sought help for depression or anxiety, he would have likely been prescribed an anti-depressant – an SSRI. Unfortunately, in a certain percentage of patients, suicide ideology and anger are aggravated rather than relieved. But that’s nothing to do with mental health, is it. It’s more a matter for the attorneys, isn’t it?
I would certainly not be the first to address the concept that Mr. Stack, while certainly a criminal, and possibly insane, may be the “Canary in a Coal Mine” concerning the citizen’s relationship with our government. The concept in question: when the canary in the coal mine dies – is it to blame?
Heartfelt condolences to all the affected parties. We live in a broken world.