Who are we? Guns and Mental Health

Who are we? Guns and Mental Health 

John Paul Derryberry 

What do you type when you are at a loss for words? It's another week and another train-wreck of the new American culture. Kids lost their lives and we continued to spiral back into our tribal groups and yell about it being someone else's problem. This is a moment where our leaders should be assisting the country in coming together. This is a time where we should be churning through every possible idea to make it as difficult as possible for events of this nature to occur. Yet here we are, led by a bunch of people who push us to squabble, who lack compassion and blame others. 

I have talked this week with responsible gun owners who have said things have to change. I have talked with mental health advocates who know access to mental health is only part of the equation. I have talked with educators who know schools have to think about how to protect their students without creating a scary, fear-led  learning environment. Most importantly, they all agree things need to change and including our culture, our gun rights and  our mental health options. 

Those who support stricter gun laws know it won’t stop every evil person from finding a gun. We use the logic that, when drugs were outlawed, people went through other means to get them.  We also know there are millions of responsible gun owners who follow every rule and should not be lumped into a category of evil people. That doesn’t mean part of the solution is not examining existing gun laws, enforcing those laws and deciding what responsible measures should be taken in the name of prevention. You may not like the fact but guns are part of the equation in these shootings. 

Those advocating increased access to mental health are correct. We need more funding and expanded services for mental and emotional health. This potentially raises inclusion and lowers the isolated feelings people have. Those in the the field know that only people seeking out support and healing have a chance at changing their lives. The thing everyone needs to know is that 99% of people who struggle with mental health never think about using a gun to take other’s lives. And, second, increased access doesn’t mean a person walks into the mental health center and asks for help. Blaming only mental health further puts a stereotype on people working through mental health struggles and increases the chance that they will never seek out help. 

The solution is going to be complicated. The solution is going to make every group upset. That is the cost of democracy. Everyone also knows these points. I’m not introducing some new argument into the conversation. What I’m saying is that, when a tragedy strikes affecting all of us, who have we become that we move further away from each other instead of closer to each other? While we argue and make no changes, another gunman is planning an attack. As we are focused on disagreeing, the question becomes not if, but when.

At some point it will happen in your town. Remember, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke

We are short on solutions but up to our eyeballs with leaders who are too comfortable doing nothing.