The article you posted said a friend of Ashbrook's father had remarked that he could have "had him put away". She's right, he could have had him committed involuntary at almost anytime. But keeping an adult committed would have probably been a problem. If he was able to act stable for a time, he could have checked himself out.
I know it was easier to keep disturbed people locked up for extended periods prior to the '80's, although I'm not knowledgable enough to explain why and how the policy change occurred.
I kind of hate to bring this aspect up on this thread, but there was an article in today's Houston Post which was based on an interview with John Craig, who lives in Houston and who co-authored an academic study of far rightwing violent groups. This fellow, Craig, had met Ashbrook during his research 3 years ago and Ashbrook had identified himself then as a member of the Phineas Priests, a small violent group associated with the so-called Christian Identity movement that advocates killing racial minoriities and Jews. Another Phineas Priest member was Buford Furrrow, the nut who shot up a Jewish day care center in LA. Craig said the Phineas Priest organization was outraged at Southern Baptists for their recently widely publicized efforts to convert Jews to Christianity. I noticed there was a similar article in today's New York Times. Sorry I don't have on line links right now to these.
Personally, I would assume that all of the members of such far out groups are mentally deranged. |
