Declan, if the man actually had a verifiable history of mental problems, he wouldn't be allowed by law to own a gun. The gun used in this crime was registered to the shooter.

Also, Virginia law doesn't allow a loaded gun to be carried in the passenger section of the car without what is called a conceal carry permit, which is a special permit issued besides the gun ownership permit, which allows the owner to carry a loaded weapon concealed on their person (ie, in a holster under a jacket, that sort of thing).

I believe the people who are attempting to defend the shooter are really looking to excuse the behavior by claiming he was mentally ill. Not even the parent of the man has said he was mentally ill. The description she gave of her son matches the description of a child most certainly bullied by someone, be it parent or other family member, or school mates, who has become a bully as an adult. That in no way excuses the behavior of shooting at drivers on the freeway. I won't accept that this man is mentally ill, until proven by the defense attorneys, who have a considerable burden of proof to present to get him off on an insanity defense.

BTW, I misspoke above in regards to two things--first, the suspect is the alleged shooter (until proven guilty, he is still innocent). Second, it appears that the state is holding him without bail (ie, he isn't allowed to be released from custody) pending a grand jury investigation. That is what he was just in court for, which brought the story to our attention again. If the court is holding him without bail, that means that the court is taking the matter very seriously. It also may mean that the suspect has prior offenses of a similar violent nature, which would make him a threat to society if released.