This blog has been sitting in my draft folder for over a week. I totally forgot about it in the midst of frenzied Christmas shopping and holiday hecticness. Here's some food for thought...
There has been a lot of commentary on the massacre at Sandy Hook. I cannot even begin to imagine the anguish and horror that those families must be experiencing. I cried, along with a nation, while the events were unfolding. In the aftermath of such a tragedy, how can our nation prevent this sort of violence from ever happening again? In my opinion, we should revisit stricter gun control measures. Coming from the NYC area where owning guns is not the norm, it is hard for me to see why there is such a hullabaloo over the right to own guns in other parts of the country. It is a constitutional right however. I also think that eliminating guns entirely is also somewhat impractical and idealistic; there are firearms bought illegally just as readily as illicit drugs are. The shooter also stole his mother’s licensed guns so this was technically a robbery in addition to major homicide. Most people contemplating murder will probably not do so through a legal gun purchase. However in addition to our 100% focus being on getting these “weapons of war” off our streets, I think many analysts are grappling with the very touchy subject area of mental health.
Obviously, people that commit these heinous crimes are a little touched. Mass murderers are usually withdrawn and socially awkward. We cannot say “hey every shy kid in the classroom has the potential for murder” after the fact. While all details on the shooter’s state of mind and mental capacities are still unclear, it is a fact that he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, (and allegedly another personality disorder that has not been made public yet). Of course, this doesn’t mean that every person afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome is a violent criminal. Many individuals with Asperger’s are high functioning members of society and many are also quite intelligent.
If anything what can come from such a tragic event is better healthcare and research into mental health and personality disorders. The common denominator in all mass murders, from Columbine to notorious serial killers is a very serious mental slip from reality. If we could understand and treat what triggers mental health lapses and episodes perhaps we could successfully prevent reoccurrences like this in the future.
Stricter gun regulations may help, however the fact is this mother owned legally all of her guns, (or so says the news). What type of regulation would have prevented this? Should parents who live with children with mental health issues be denied the right to own guns now? That would be discriminating to say the least. Yes, of course, this mother owned quite a few guns, more so than should be warranted. I have not heard word yet on how the guns were obtained, whether by breaking into mom’s closet or having unrestricted access to them, which would be a safety and responsibility issue to begin with. I think the NRA and law making bodies that be need to be the experts on this. Better regulation, definitely. The “how” is another story.
Ultimately, what needs more focus in this horrible story is mental health. Not just mental health awareness, but mental health research. There are far too many children, teens and adults not receiving the proper treatment they should. Mainstreaming children that clearly need specialized, individual care plans does not work nor benefit anyone. Parents need to be less in denial about their child’s issues and needs because it only hurts the child. Early diagnosis and early prevention is key. The fragile and delicate cloth that makes society civilized and sane is so easily breached by the actions of just one individual. What is clear to me is that far greater emphasis needs to be placed on mental health and not just singularly on gun control.
There has been a lot of commentary on the massacre at Sandy Hook. I cannot even begin to imagine the anguish and horror that those families must be experiencing. I cried, along with a nation, while the events were unfolding. In the aftermath of such a tragedy, how can our nation prevent this sort of violence from ever happening again? In my opinion, we should revisit stricter gun control measures. Coming from the NYC area where owning guns is not the norm, it is hard for me to see why there is such a hullabaloo over the right to own guns in other parts of the country. It is a constitutional right however. I also think that eliminating guns entirely is also somewhat impractical and idealistic; there are firearms bought illegally just as readily as illicit drugs are. The shooter also stole his mother’s licensed guns so this was technically a robbery in addition to major homicide. Most people contemplating murder will probably not do so through a legal gun purchase. However in addition to our 100% focus being on getting these “weapons of war” off our streets, I think many analysts are grappling with the very touchy subject area of mental health.
Obviously, people that commit these heinous crimes are a little touched. Mass murderers are usually withdrawn and socially awkward. We cannot say “hey every shy kid in the classroom has the potential for murder” after the fact. While all details on the shooter’s state of mind and mental capacities are still unclear, it is a fact that he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, (and allegedly another personality disorder that has not been made public yet). Of course, this doesn’t mean that every person afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome is a violent criminal. Many individuals with Asperger’s are high functioning members of society and many are also quite intelligent.
If anything what can come from such a tragic event is better healthcare and research into mental health and personality disorders. The common denominator in all mass murders, from Columbine to notorious serial killers is a very serious mental slip from reality. If we could understand and treat what triggers mental health lapses and episodes perhaps we could successfully prevent reoccurrences like this in the future.
Stricter gun regulations may help, however the fact is this mother owned legally all of her guns, (or so says the news). What type of regulation would have prevented this? Should parents who live with children with mental health issues be denied the right to own guns now? That would be discriminating to say the least. Yes, of course, this mother owned quite a few guns, more so than should be warranted. I have not heard word yet on how the guns were obtained, whether by breaking into mom’s closet or having unrestricted access to them, which would be a safety and responsibility issue to begin with. I think the NRA and law making bodies that be need to be the experts on this. Better regulation, definitely. The “how” is another story.
Ultimately, what needs more focus in this horrible story is mental health. Not just mental health awareness, but mental health research. There are far too many children, teens and adults not receiving the proper treatment they should. Mainstreaming children that clearly need specialized, individual care plans does not work nor benefit anyone. Parents need to be less in denial about their child’s issues and needs because it only hurts the child. Early diagnosis and early prevention is key. The fragile and delicate cloth that makes society civilized and sane is so easily breached by the actions of just one individual. What is clear to me is that far greater emphasis needs to be placed on mental health and not just singularly on gun control.
