Old people say a lot of crazy stuff. I mean, I love my grandma, but how many times can one person mention the National Dog Show? I’d understand her talking about the Westminster Kennel Club, but c’mon. Oh, the Irish Setter won? I totally forgot during the 20 seconds it took me to get another beer.
But it’s all harmless. Usually.
Michael Stephen Bowden is 77, and he says he wants to kill President Obama.
On November 16, Bowden underwent a screening at a VA clinic in Spartanburg, South Carolina. When a nurse asked him if he’d had any suicidal thoughts—following up on Bowden’s positive suicide rating in April—he responded, “Yes, I would like to shoot the president, then myself.”
After an immediate evaluation from a mental health nurse, Bowden added:
[I] was thinking of traveling to Washington, D.C., to shoot the president because he is not doing enough to help African Americans.
This prompted Secret Service members to visit Bowden’s home. When questioned, Bowden confirmed these comments. Then, in a sworn statement, he wrote:
If I had the opportunity I would shoot him myself. If I had the opportunity to put Obama against the wall and shoot him, I would.
Officials also found a small collection of loaded semi-automatic weapons near Bowden’s bed. On November 18, Bowden was arrested and charged with “threatening to take the life of, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm on the President of the United States.” The judge ordered a full psychiatric evaluation.
come on let him out!