As the horror of the Sandy Hook massacre begins to fade, the country and politicians are debating what they feel are the “real” issues behind this tragedy. Lip services has been giving to the lack of mental health funding and weak commitment laws, and all the energy is going into the old fight between liberals and conservatives over gun control vs. second amendment rights. This is an endless debate and now the current venue for the two sides to carry on their historic and unresolvable struggle. Meanwhile, fixable causes are ignored.
All the gunmen in the recent shootings had active and untreated psychiatric disorders at the time they committed the acts. Lack of mental health funding (conservatives) and weak committment laws (liberals) prevent adequate care. I prematurely released two psychotic, paranoid patients with access to weapons this week for this reason. I could, tragically, do nothing else. It is common sense that some of these people will commit violent crimes. Three decades ago (Im old!), this would never have happened.
And, Please, there are over 300 million firearms in the US today, many in the hands of gang bangers, professional criminals and drug cartels. Assault weapons have been sold since the sixties. Its a fools errand to think you are going to control them now. This debate is a waste of time and resources.
Restoring funding to treat psychiatric patients is utilitarian, in saving money now spent on police work and prisons, as well as being the decent path. It would likely prevent some, if not most, of these tragedies. Perhaps it is time to put aside stigma and follow the known science in this field. Lets hope the next White House summit will be on mental health! (Im not holding my breath!). In the meantime, we can all wait for the next event.