In
light of the events that have taken place over the past few weeks, as well as
in the past, I’ve decided to blog regarding the discussion as to “the supposed
correlation” as to guns and mental illness. Just because you have a mental
illness, does this mean you are going to go on a shooting rampage, and denied a
gun permit? Although not a gun owner, nor do I ever plan to be, nevertheless,
why is the connection to having a “mental illness” and “going on a killing
rampage” have to be used in the same sentence?
I
agree there is a big gap between treatment needs for those with a mental
illness, and the lack of available resources.
Pete Earley, in USA Today,
says he worries that those with mental illness will be lumped together with the
small group of people who have committed heinous acts of violence, who have
also had their share of mental health issues.
Read it on Global News: Global News | The debate between guns and mental illness
Another
assumption the news jumps to when a shooting occurs is the individual who just
committed this horrible act of violence has a mental illness and I feel jumping
to this conclusion is not fair.
Is
treatment of an individual with a mental illness with medication, going to eliminate
all these shootings? I really do not think so. I realize in certain
circumstances this may be true, but I guarantee shootings still will occur from
those individuals considered “mental illness free.”
Another
thing I don’t understand, in many states that require people with a history of
violently mental illness (from 72 hour or 96 hour holds) to be placed in the
National Instant Criminal Background Check system.
I understand
in some certain circumstances this may prevent violence….but it has been my
understanding that those individuals on this (72/96 hour hold list) were not
individuals involved in these recent and passed shootings!
In
general though…is sending individuals who commit crimes, to jail appropriate.
Many times those individuals sent to prison or jail has an increase in symptoms
because the environment exacerbates symptoms. It is my opinion; the United
States jumps right away to locking up individuals with mental illnesses not
provide medication management, therapy, or an understanding of the diagnosed or
specially undiagnosed mental disorder. The law should consider putting those
mental ill into the state facilities specially designed for this.
According
to Human Rights Watch, the number of mentally ill inmates in U.S. prisons
quadrupled from 2000 to 2006, and it continues to rise -- in fact, the rate of inmate mental illness is five times greater
(56 percent) than in the non-incarcerated population.
I
would love to hear feedback on this topic, please provide comments, so that we
can all figure out the best solution for preventing and understanding these
folks.
Thanks
everyone for reading!
