[Content Note: Terrorism; intent to harm.]
An arrest has been made in the case of ricin-laced letters addressed to President Barack Obama and Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Paul Kevin Curtis of Tupelo, Miss., was taken into custody by federal agents last night.
His motivation is still not totally clear: It certainly isn't partisan politics, as Obama is a Democrat and Wicker is a conservative Republican. But apparently Curtis has posted pictures of guns and pro-gun/anti-reform material on his Facebook page, so it may be related to his views on guns.
I want to note that local law enforcement have told media that Curtis is believed to have some mental health issues. While acknowledging that information, I also want to underline that, if the report is indeed accurate, mental illness may or may not be a contributing factor to Curtis' crime. It is almost never as simple as "he's crazy, so he did this harmful thing," and let us be sensitive to that reality in this space.
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