Heya Martha... If I could offer a bit of advice... this person you know who is setting off your warning bells....

Start with some "under the wing" type of interaction with them. Warm up to them. Become a friend. You see it in movies all the time... the creepy older person being befriended by another and learning they werent all that creepy... just lost...sad. Start with that. Assess the situation if you can. Weapons around? Guns available?

Too often people arent securing their weapons properly. My rifle when I get it will be locked in two ways plus hidden. My ammo double locked as well and in another part of the house completely. It wont be easy at all for anyone to obtain my weapon. This kind of thing can help deter the person if they lose it and go crazy.

Sitting back and doing nothing helps nobody. At the very least, talk to someone else who is close to them. By showing you care and trying you get things started. Its now your responsibility because its your alarm bells going off. You didnt ask for it but its yours just the same. To turn a blind eye is a crime in itself.

Good luck to you.

Befriending someone of the opposite sex has complications, the possiblilty of obsession developing is certainly one of them... I would be more inclined to befriend if the person were female. We need more good men to step up to the plate.

I am a believer, in many ways a crappy one, but nevertheless... I am praying for him.

DaScribbler,

Excellent find. Nice to see a bit of the lighter side of this countdown that may be driving some folks over the brink.

MM.

Martha,

You are concerned for this person or you are afraid this person may harm themselves or others. This stems from behaviours you have observed and now you want suggestions on how to handle this situation.

I do not share Scotty's suggestion that it is now your problem to solve. Has the subject done anything illegal?? Have they broken the law?? Have they threatened you personally?? If they have not crossed the line and done something illegal, it is not surprising that the police have not or will not intervene. I at this point do agree with Scotty on the point, if possible speak to a family or friend of the subject and express your concern - if you have done this you have done what could be reasonable for a stranger to do for a fellow human being.

On the other hand, if you see the subject walking down your street with a "body Bomb", please call 9-1-1 and assist them locate the subject, while you get a safe distance away.

Reclusive, hermit, "anti-social" preferences does not mean a person is a potential mass murderer. It may mean that, that person just does not like the company of the people that are around them. And unless they are running down the street headed for the senior's centre or recplex dressed like "Rambo" covered in ammo belts, grenades, multiple handguns, an RPG and a machinegun, odds are they are just "weird". And we still live in a free country and that includes the freedom to be "weird".

Do no harm to others and you should be free to do what you want. Including living in the basement at your parents house, playing video games and owning guns. If you do not think it is okay to own a piece of personal property - cars, guns, stereo's, etc; you may find the government that will deny these things will also be the same government that will deny you the right or freedom to practice the religion of your choice. See once we head down this slippery slope of denying things to people it is hard to establish the line in the sand before the things in life you enjoy are now banned or outlawed. Be careful what you wish for. Freedom must be defended at the maximum allowable size. As long as your freedom does not harm others, you should be free to do as you will.

But that is just my thoughts on this,

Mountainman.

Martha, Where I work and I expect many places there is a saying.... "You know it, You OWN it! Same goes for this troubled fella. Call up the police and talk to someone. Give them the heads up and let them take it from there. You now have a clear conscience because you did something. The police won't let anyone know how they heard about it, they will assess the situation even before they contact this person. They have the resources to check things out and if nothing else, will appreciate Jane Q taking the time to let them know.

If they decide that there could be a risk, they will drop in and visit the guy and see how things are in the house and after talking to him, decide where they will go with it from there. Usually not a big fuss and I'm sure they prefer to go into these situations before an event happens than after.

Think about it like this, If you were driving down the road and the guy in front of you is driving erratically and you suspect he's impaired you call 9-1-1. The police stop him and determine if he is or not. If not, then it's just a traffic stop. If he is impaired, good job on your part for reporting him. You quite likely saved his life and maybe the family in the car heading the other way. BUT if you don't and as you are following along and he takes out a mini-van in a horrific collision, how will you feel then?

You have a suspicion? Own it and take care of it. I'd be pissed if I lost a family member to this guy and found out no one did anything after knowing.

If someone reported me and the police came knocking two things happen.
(a) We chat, they check me out and then leave
or
(b)I'm a nut bar and they clean out things I could hurt myself or others with.

Either one is OK cos maybe I'm a nut bar and don't know it :p

Just sayin' is all

Just need to add one more point.

If the alarm bells are going off and you have a "gut" feeling then you already know what you need to do.

It's not a matter of fearing that "Big Brother" is going to step in and deny us of whatever we are afraid we'll lose. It's looking out for your fellow man.