Mass shootings

[BengalHawk62]

(03-01-2018, 12:55 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: Over the years we have reduced the funding that has gone into mental health treatment. This has resulted in people that need help in that regard being imprisoned, and often over and over again. If they aren't imprisoned, they end up being homeless. It's a serious problem that we need to focus on. The issue is that mental health is a difficult topic that is still stigmatized in significant ways. This is getting better, but it's nowhere near where it needs to be in order for us to seriously address the problems. Frank, open, and honest discussions about mental health issues are happening more now than ever but we still have a high level of ignorance in society surrounding these issues.

To connect this to the firearm violence issue specifically, though, is a dangerous situation. I have a problem with comments like those Lucie made and with others discussing stripping people of their liberties for mental health issues. Forced institutionalization like what has been advocated on this forum is fascist and un-American. It's a violation of the unalienable rights we all possess. I have no objections with this occurring when due process is followed and other options are exhausted, but it should always be an absolute last resort. That is not the way it is often presented in the discussions. I served as foreman for a jury that institutionalized someone against their will. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever dealt with even though I know I made the correct decision.

I would also like to say, and I wish I had the data on hand at this moment but I have forgotten where I read it, that people diagnosed with mental disorders commit violent crimes at a lower rate than those that do not have diagnosed disorders. There are a ton of factors in there that can explain this correlation, but this is what the data tells us. The data also tells us that people with mental disorders are victims of violent crimes at a significantly higher rate than people that are not.

I don't disagree that we need to take a harder look at mental health in our country, I advocate for it on a regular basis. But tying it into this conversation is harmful to the overall movement.

I respectfully disagree with your last sentence. Tying mental health to gun violence is not ‘harmful’.....it’s all included. Unless I’m not understanding what you are trying to say.