Keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill isn’t that simple
by David Atkins
Elsbeth Cameron Ritchie has a great piece today on the difficulty of keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, particularly those in the military.
Suffice it to say that mental illness already carries a very strong stigma in American society. In the military, admitting to mental health issues could wind up not destroying your career but even get you kicked out as well. Add to that the potential to be prevented from owning a firearm after a career centered about combat, and the unintended consequence of stricter laws on gun ownership for the mentally ill would be a chill on seeking out mental health services–particularly among military personnel but also among the broader public.
Elsbeth’s conclusion to all of this is to focus on more responsible gun ownership and safety practices, as well as better job prospects. But we all know that’s not going to accomplish much of anything to prevent future massacres.
If it’s hard to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, then the answer isn’t to give up and do nothing. The answer is broader gun control policy. A world in which those with mental health issues feel free to seek the treatment they need is much more ideal than one in which every paranoiac gets to carry around a handheld death machine.
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