I must disagree with one of the letters from Nov. 23. This concerns the argument that “Kip Kinkel is mentally ill and is physically unable to control his brain,” thus resulting in the shooting at their Oregon high school.
Although I have not experienced the same mental difficulties that Kip has, I do know what it is like to have no control of my brain. Until I received the correct medication, I fought obsessive compulsion disorder and manic depression a few years ago. This period was the most excruciating of my life. I was tempted to do awful things that would have destroyed my spiritual progression, but thanks to my devotion to the gospel I survived, and now my life is beautiful.
I do not know if Kip had the gospel in his life, but I do have a testimony from my own experiences that God would never put any one of his children down on earth to be destined to commit crimes — from mental disorders or any other reason. No matter what challenges life gives us, we are NEVER forced against our will and conscience to disobey God’s commandments.
A good principle to be applied here is that Heavenly Father does not give us challenges that we cannot overcome. There is a false belief in our society that a person is not responsible for his terrible actions if he is challenged somehow. This is truly wrong.
F. Charles Roecker IV
Simsbury, Conn.
