Suspect in chainsaw attack sent to Mental Health

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_314115008.html

During a pre-trial hearing on Monday, Callaway County Judge, Kevin Crane, sentenced a suspect to the Mental Health Department of Missouri. On Jan. 19,2008, a man (Watkins) walked into a homeless shelter and started attacking the people inside with a chainsaw. It is said that Matthew J. Watkins was helping to prepare the New Life Evangelistic Center's annual peace festival. Watkins was charged with four counts of first degree felony assault and four counts of felony armed criminal action. The prosecution agreed to a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Crane ruled that Watkins was not guilty of the criminal charges against him, but, as mentioned above, is now in the custody of Missouri's Mental Health Department.
Why would someone not notice that a volunteer walks in to help with a chainsaw in his hand. I am not clear whether the homeless shelter was part of the church, but I assume so. I am not sure how to comment on this article, it is leaving me at an almost loss for words. What keeps coming to mind is stupid, stupid, stupid. What is going on lately? Have we just gotten so used to this sort of thing that it doesn't shock us anymore. It should! It should shock our pants right off, but it's not, and that is sad.
I am not sure why I am feeling this way. Normally this would really bother me, and instead it has left me with an extreme loss of words. There has been so much violence in the news, and not only lately, it has progressively getting worse. What are people and this country coming to? A homeless shelter is supposed to be a safe place for people to go. Churches are supposed to be safe also. What is going to happen,( well I guess that it is already happening) when churches and shelters are no longer safe. What will we do to provide safety and shelter then. Will we open our homes and hearts, or will we all continue to turn a blind eye?
My prayers are with the employees that were injured and their families. May their spirits not be broken and their hearts remain open.