Mental Health vs Gun Possession

by Sky Roberts

January 21, 2013

The collision of stances between whether or not gun control should be enforced by the government leaves America in a black and white battle. Since the several shootings within the past decade—Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, along with several others—citizens of the nation turn the blame towards guns, rather than the people who handle them. A possible solution by the government is to put more emphasis on background checks for those who purchase guns. The National Rifle Association is rather supportive of this solution. The association president David Keene also mentions that we need to think about not what to do about guns, but what to do to make our schools safer. President Obama takes another outlook on what the problem could be between all of these shootings. During a research at the White House, there was no connection found between these acts of violence and real-life violence, though there is an idea that the violence seen on media and video games could contribute to gun violence. First person shooter games are very similar to the acts that these gunmen have played out.

Officer comforting a student affected by the shooting at Virginia Tech.
Photo by Richmond Times-Dispatch

Newton, Connecticut family members at the memorial of their children.
Photo by Craig Ruttle

I believe that these shootings have a link to the gun user’s mental health. Ryan Lanza, the shooter of Sandy Hook Elementary, had a history of a mental illness. I believe that those who want to carry guns for things like hunting or their own safety, those consumers should have that right. The government should take more of an awareness towards mental health.