Tragedies and Guns

What made me decide to go ahead and do this is post is in response to Liza Long and the backlash she is receiving. Liza has a son who very well could become one of these people and she is doing everything she can to stop that. Her argument is that the real problem causing these tragedies is a lack of mental health treatment. Personally, I think mental health should be a large part of gun control but it's not the only thing that leads to these tragedies and because of this thinking too many people don't seek mental help because they are concerned they will be seen as a danger to society when that's rarely the case.

Liza's Article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16/i-am-adam-lanzas-mother-mental-illness-conversation_n_2311009.html?utm_hp_ref=parents&ir=Parents

The Backlash:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/liza-long-sarah-kendzior-controversy_n_2316863.html

There seem to be three types of gun owners. The first type are those who like to hunt and only do that in legal situations. Otherwise, their guns are tucked away safely. Most gun owners appear to keep their guns stashed. They say they have it for protection but they don't take it with them when they go anywhere. The final type are those who intend to kill. That last type usually has one type of mental illness. The two most common are Antisocial Personality Disorder and Conduct Disorder. The articles below are from the DSM IV website, the Psychology diagnosis "bible". Here is the main page: http://psychcentral.com/disorders/

Antisocial Personality Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx7.htm

Conduct Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx67.htm

I feel strongly that Psychological evaluation should be a heavily required part of gun ownership. For starters, six sessions with a Psychiatrist before they write an approval for gun purchase. That approval should be followed by a law enforcement background check. Guns should only be purchasable through law enforcement with heavy records of ownership for each gun. During the duration of ownership the entire household should be required to see a Psychiatrist at minimum once a month. Those visits should be required to be reported to the law enforcement agency the guns are registered with. No assault riffles and 1 magazine per gun only. They also should be forbidden for any reason in homes with kids under 18. Too many kids are killed with guns in their household and I know of one pregnant woman who would be alive, and her baby, had her almost stepson not had access to a gun.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/21/jordan-brown-killed-fathe_n_168862.html

Guns are too easy to get. Most private sales don't check backgrounds and gun stores are likely to let things slip. There are too many things wrong with the Stand Your Ground laws if someone can kill a kid instead of calling the police for Disturbing the Peace.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/loud-music-leads-to-murder_n_2200708.html

It's disturbing to me how many people by guns right after these tragedies in fear that the laws will be stricter. They need to be stricter to protect the innocent. I don't read often about guns saving people's lives. I just read about them ending innocent ones. Not all gun owners are suffering risky mental disorders and are dangerous but have legally obtained guns anyway. Some are responsible with them. But they need to be way harder to get and keep. Those who live in a house with a gun should get the psychological help they need not to use them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/mass-shooting-psychology-spree-killers_n_2331236.html?ref=topbar

http://flowingdata.com/2011/01/19/states-with-the-most-and-least-firearms-murders/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/chicago-gun-violence-retu_n_1790399.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-sugarmann/gun-deaths-exceed-motor-v_b_1536793.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/guns-deaths-sandy-hook-shooting_n_2325706.html\

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/bill-moyers-nra-enabler-of-death-colorado-shootings_n_1695658.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-moore/its-the-guns-_b_1700218.html

Protecting Children not guns from March 2012
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marian-wright-edelman/how-our-nation-can-protec_b_1392551.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/18/student-brings-gun-to-school_n_2324143.html