TIME TO SOLVE THE VIOLENCE

It is happening again. A horrific shooting is turning into a partisan circus. History is repeating itself. There is hardly any coverage on how to address the problems of societal violence because ideas have given way to partisan politics. I have heard good and concerned people say, “This is the world we live in now” and I want to scream, “This is the world we are creating!”  Just days after the killing, I was appalled to see Wall Street concerned about the ramifications of a mass shooting on gun manufacture’s stock.  I am furious that elected officials hide behind prayer, and caution us to avoid any “knee jerk” political reaction. I would like to remind those elected officials that prayer without some type of positive action (which does not include giving up a round of golf) is nothing but a wish list.

I want to say that I enjoy shooting. I love to shoot trap, have gone out hunting, and at one time, even been a member of the NRA.   I see absolutely no reason for anyone to own an assault rifle. AK 47’s are the most popular gun sold in the US and it was developed by the Russians as a military assault rifle. It’s intent and design is meant to kill people. I don’t know of anyone who has gone hunting small (or big) game with a gun capable of making a moose look like Swiss cheese. So, why the uproar about gun legislation to address this weapon? Simple, people have become convinced that legislation directed at curbing any type of gun ownership will lead to the loss of the Second amendment. That is nonsense. What is fact, is that we have the highest rate of gun violence among developed countries and the largest percentage of gun ownership. The so-called “regulations” are not effective or adequately enforced. We have laws that demand the use of seatbelts, restrict the issuing of a drivers license, and require that someone has to be 21 to have a beer, yet we are afraid to put similar restrictions on the acquisition of assault weapons?

So, they play the blame game. “This is a mental health issue!” OK, even if I were to totally agree, why are they cutting mental health services? Why is mental health the poorest paid professional vocation? Why are caseloads often in excess of one hundred clients per clinician? As a therapist for over 20 years, I can state that our mental health system is designed to be ineffective. A person with paranoid schizophrenia can go buy a gun and there is NOTHING a clinician can do when a threat has not been made. Why is there not a brief psychological evaluation given to someone before they can buy a gun? Psychological tests are given to job seekers, so why not gun seekers? If there are warning signs, the buyer can be referred for an in depth evaluation.

So, in an effort to put some action behind my prayers, I am sending my politicians the following:

Dear (Congressman, Senator, etc)

As your constituent, I am requesting that you address the gun violence in the following manner:

First, in order to eliminate any possible bias in your decisions, I am asking that you donate any monies that you have directly (or indirectly) received from the gun lobby to victims and/or programs dedicated to the elimination of gun violence. (you might want to consider the same strategy in regards to the pharmaceutical industry)

Secondly, stop blaming mental health issues when you are destroying the mental health delivery system. Feel free to stop your hypocrisy in the name of a “balanced budget,” when you fund pork barrel projects designed to get you elected.

Finally, I request, no I demand, that you remember that your first responsibility is to your constituents, not to your party, lobbyists or your own ego.

Yours truly,

I appreciate those who have taken the time to read this and I ask that you pass it on and send what you think is worthy to your elected officials (with any personalized comments you wish). It is easy to do but so necessary!

Thank you,

Pete