This weeks throwback is from April 2, 2013
“We have no national database of these lunatics… We have a completely cracked mentally ill system that has these monsters walking the streets.”
— Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President NRA
Don’t want what monsters, Mr LaPierre? What do you consider a lunatic? What mental illness would require an individual to be tracked to ensure we are not walking the streets with our guns armed and ready to do some serious damage?
Mass shooters in the U.S. have been linked with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, and even depression. That’s going to be a pretty long list and none have found to be a specific factor in the increase of mass shootings. There’s already stigma for those who have been diagnosed. I’ve spent the last five years on this blog to help people understand that there is no shame in being mentally ill. Sadly, statements like yours further polarizes us.
There are some restrictions already in place. Many years ago, when I willingly checked into a psychiatric ward, I was required to sign a form advising me that I was restricted from purchasing a firearm for the next five years. This form, however, was not created to prevent me from hurting other people, its primary purpose was to keep guns out of my hands so I would not hurt myself. Considering 1 out of five diagnosed with bipolar disorder commits suicide, it seems to me like a pretty good law to have.
What about depression? Well, that would certainly be a very long list. Polls show that between 17 million and 21 million American adults are diagnosed annually with depression. That’s a lot of people. Many of those diagnosis’ are situational, however, is a person who suffers from a short term diagnoses any less dangerous than someone who suffers from chronic depression? I doubt it. In fact, it is my uneducated guess that those who suffer from situational depression are probably more likely to harm themselves and others. Why? Because they have had less time to learn how to control it. There is little incentive to learn to adapt.
How dare you, LaPierre. You and the rest of the NRA have shown no shame. You’ve indicted virtually every institution to avoid looking toward yourselves. One of your most recent claims is the AR-15 shown above is the modern day version of a musket. You’ve shown a lack of compassion to the residents of Newtown by having robocalls dial throughout the area to garner support for gun owners rights less than three months after the Sandy Hook elementary shootings.
What about you, Mr. LaPierre? I am empathetic to the fact that you also suffer. After all, you did cite mental illness as a reason to receive a draft deferment during the Vietnam War. I know how difficult that must have been. Go ahead and further pursue a law requiring the mentally ill to have to register with a national database. Just make sure that you put yourself first in line
Ha, what goes on that your country sometimes leaves me speechless in both directions
It leaves me speechless too, Marie
‘Muricans want the easy scapegoat, the simple explanation. The less thinking the better. So it’s a nice warm comfy blanket to put on the mass murder issue: it’s crazy people! It’s the mentally ill! Yeah, that’s it! It’s all their fault.
We really are trained to be self-centered, entitled cowards in our society. It’s the devaluation of the lives of our fellow citizens that enables mass shootings: when you are told everyone else is a threat and other people are reduced to inhuman, simplistic stereotypes, it’s all too easy to shoot them. Pathetic.
Well said and very sad
I remember when I was little that people with cancer were stigmatized. Not enough was known about it so people felt uncomfortable around those who had cancer. It was the same thing with aids. But as people became educated, the population became more compassionate and understanding. People with cancer and aids are no longer shunned. Too bad that the amount of money that was pumped into studying cancer and aids isn’t pumped into the study of mental illness. People are afraid of what they don’t understand and they feel anyone with a mental problem is a potential risk. They fear we could lose it at any time and do harm. They don’t realize that one in every five people they know possibly has a mental illness–we’re just like everyone else. You can’t tell by looking at us. And the few people who are a bit mentally challenged or “out there” as the world calls them, need help not rejection. I’ve seen a lot of change in my lifetime but I don’t know if I’ll live long enough to see mental illness considered as just another ordinary biological illness to be dealt with. I hope I’ll see it in my lifetime.
i hope so too, Journey. How mental illness is treated in books, TV and movies doesn’t help matters
Nice post. New perspective on a super complex issue.
Yes it is complex and not something that’s going to be easy to resolve. Thank you.
Thought provoking post
Good to hear you say so, Denise
Thought-provoking.
Good to hear you say so, Denise
And still thinking about it.
Thank you