*sigh*
I can't believe that this guy was able to get access to a gun. How the hell is that even possible? Isn't hit and run a felony? Any violent crime should pretty much ban you from being able to purchase a firearm. Unless he previously owned the weapon, or he purchased it illegally, the system fucked up royally there.
As for them not being able to do anything... well... yeah. I've seen that happen.
My old supervisor had a brother in law that was batshit, and was released from a secure mental facility. His wife (the crazy guy's sister) said that she'd take him in until he could find an apartment.
He started hearing voices. He wasn't taking his medication, and was starting to tweak out. My supervisor called both the police and the facility, and let them know that crazy guy was going to need to be in custody, because he was getting dangerous, and he feared for his family.
They said that they wouldn't be able to do anything, because he hasn't committed a crime. The most he could do, is get a restraining order.
The voices told him that he needed to take action. Lawrence Dane ended up killing his sister, Donna Mimbach, 29; her husband, Todd Mimbach, 32; and their children, Daniel Mimbach, 22 months; Amber Duval, 9, and John Mimbach, 12.