We need better mental health resources and early intervention to prevent horrors like Las Vegas shooting
The mass shooting in Las Vegas was truly horrific and even though America will become even more polarised there are important lessons to learn
Every Saturday, The Consumer Crew are here to solve your problems.
Mel Hunter will take on readers’ consumer issues, Coupon Queen Maddy Tooke helps out, Judge Rinder will tackle your legal woes, and property expert Amanda Cable will weigh in with her tips.
Judge Rinder - The Sun's legal expert
THE appalling mass shooting in Las Vegas this week is truly horrific.
Sadly, given the current political climate, America will no doubt respond by becoming even more polarised, which makes the tragedy even more painful to bear.
Given the tough gun control laws in the UK (it’s a five-year minimum prison sentence for simple possession of a firearm here), it is sometimes hard for us to understand why the US seems incapable of dealing with its staggering levels of gun violence.
The incurable fault-line in the US is between people who believe their right to bear arms is legally sacrosanct as it is clearly sanctioned in their written constitution and those who think enough is enough and that, when the bewigged 18th-century framers of that document guaranteed its citizens the right to possess weapons, they could not have imagined humankind would invent guns with the power to fire thousands of bullets within instants.
Now is not the time for politics, of course. It is a time to reflect and, above all, to extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those who have lost their loved ones.
At this stage, very little is clear about the motives (if any) behind Stephen Paddock’s act of evil. The only thing we can be sure of is that he must have been seriously mentally disturbed at the time.
In the spirit of reflection, I cannot help but cast my mind back to my own legal practice where I represented countless defendants for violent offences who clearly had mental illnesses.
I reflect also on the numbers of men and women in our prisons who, with early psychiatric intervention, might have made different choices.
This is not to excuse their offences. Not at all! I reflect on this because I care passionately about this issue.
We need to get better at educating ourselves and especially schools about mental health. And we need to fund mental health resources far, far better.
This is not politics. Identifying and treating people early is simple common sense. Prevention is far cheaper — and better — than the cure. Sure, I doubt that treatment could have done anything to stop this mass shooting. Stephen Paddock is not the point.
The point is that in our own country, there are large numbers of young people who end up committing serious offences and consequent lifetimes in various jails who might have ended up as our friends and neighbours if only they had been treated early.
Summing Up
Q:I HAVE not spoken to or seen my father for 50 years. I am 66 and he is in his 90s and dying in a care home.
I am one of five siblings. I was physically and mentally abused by my father until he walked out on my mother (the best day of our lives).
One sister and one brother occasionally visit him. They have said all five of us are liable for his funeral as he is penniless and Citizens Advice told my sister this is correct.
I would rather go to prison than contribute to his funeral. Do I have to pay anything? To me, he is a stranger.
SHIRLEY, Somerset
A: Nobody can force you to pay for your father’s funeral. It would be legally – not to mention morally – offensive if there was a law forcing you to pay for your biological father’s funeral, especially given your horrendous experiences as a child.
If your siblings want to pay to bury this man, that is up to them. Otherwise the local authority has an obligation to assist. Either way, you do not have to pay.
I would urge you to defend any suggestion that you are legally obliged to shell out for a last goodbye to him. I don’t know what
Citizens Advice Bureau your family member visited but I doubt they saw a lawyer. If they ask for money, I suggest you see one at once.
Mr Rinder regrets he cannot answer your questions personally. Answers are intended as general guidance. They do not constitute legal advice and they are not a substitute for independent legal advice.
Got a question for Judge Rinder? Email [email protected]
Amanda Cable - Property expert
WHEN vicar Vernon Lidstone retired, he decided he needed a hobby to help him relax.
So he built a working five-gauge steam railway in his back garden – 370m long, with 13,000 hand-screwed bolts, 28 tons of ballast, sidings, an engine shed, turntables and passing loops.
Oh, and two model steam engines and three electric locomotives.
Vernon built the engines out of “scraps” in his shed. He says: “I made a steam-driven Thomas the Tank Engine from a toilet cistern and the windscreen wiper motor from an old lorry. My pride and joy is a scaled-down copy of the royal train.”
Now Vernon and wife Penny are selling it all, along with their four-bed bungalow Pike House, in Saul, Gloucs. It’s on the market with thehouseshop.com for £835,000 – and for that price, you also get an indoor swimming pool.
Vernon, 74, says: “I felt quite stressed when I retired as a chaplain in 2002 so I decided to build a railway for our grandchildren.
“It took me five months, during which time I levelled the track with 28 tons of ballast, and hand- screwed 13,000 bolts – which is why I’m now hoping the new buyer wants to keep the railway.
“Otherwise, it will take me a long time to dismantle the lot.”
Nick Marr, of thehouseshop.com, said: “Every so often a seller lists a property with us which really grabs our attention – and this one really did.
“You literally just step out of the back door to catch the nearest train.
“Our whole office has fallen in love with Pike House and the railway that Vernon built. The arguments about who gets first go on the mini-train ride around the garden have already begun.”
Trainspotting
TRAINSPOTTERS can also get on board with this unique three-bed bungalow in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.
Built around two restored Midland Railway carriages dating from 1885, you step back in time into Victorian first-class luxury.
The bungalow has a hallway/platform and the bedrooms are formed from restored carriages.
It’s for sale at £500,000 – see for more details.
Homes do sell like hot cakes
SCENT is said to be a key factor in attracting people to buy or rent a home – but what are the nation’s favourite household aromas?
The clear winner is a whiff of baking, it seems. Forty-six per cent of respondents to a recent survey named this. Next up was Sunday roast (39%), then coffee (36%), freshly washed clothes (32%), cakes baking in the oven (31%), fresh linen or cashmere (31%), and log fires (26%).
Yankee Candle commissioned the poll to mark the launch of a new range of autumnal scents.
Mel Hunter - Readers' champion on fighting for your rights
Q: I BOUGHT a faux leather headboard for my bed from Dreams in March. A split has now appeared where I have been resting my head and back when sitting up.
When I contacted Dreams, they said to email photos of the headboard so that they could inspect the damage. They then phoned back within 15 minutes, stating that they could not replace the product as it was not a manufacturer’s fault.
They also stated that the headboard was not there to lean my head against as it could get damaged. It was there for decorative purposes and not designed to be rested against.
I have emailed them an extract from its website describing the headboard, including that it can be used to lean your back against.
I do not know if I should pursue this matter further.
Paul, Telford, Shrops
A: You were absolutely right to pursue this matter further. A headboard that you can’t lean your head against? I’d never heard of anything so crazy.
I told Dreams as much, pointing out that its customer service on this occasion left a lot to be desired. As the faulty bed head was less than six months old when you first complained, you were entitled to a repair or replacement without having to prove a manufacturing fault.
What’s more, the leather on the furniture is faux and therefore should be built to withstand someone leaning their head against it.
Dreams said the problem was caused by “wear and tear”. But after less than six months, this suggests that the product simply isn’t up to the job.
A day later Dreams held its hands up, telling me: “Unfortunately, on this occasion we made a mistake and fell below our high standards. We apologise wholeheartedly to Paul and will be offering a full refund.
We will also look at providing extra training to our staff if necessary.”
They replaced the headboard and gave you a £50 voucher.
Q: I PURCHASED a boiler service and Landlord Gas Safety Record through 247 Home Rescue, which cost £100.
Having not received any details, I contacted them only to be told they had not carried out the service because my boiler was a back boiler.
No information was requested about the boiler type.
I logged a complaint, asking for a full refund and pointing out that a Landlord Gas Safety Record is a legal requirement and they had therefore left me liable. They said they’d refund half the balance while they investigated the complaint.
More than a month later, I have heard nothing and received no refund.
Lee Gupwell Northampton
A: You knew your responsibilities as a landlord but 247 Home Rescue let you down.
When I contacted the company, they told me it was a “genuine mistake” and that they didn’t service back boilers.
They have now processed a full refund.
Do you have a consumer issue? E-mail [email protected]
Maddy Tooke, Coupon Queen
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