People with diagnosed mental health issues should not have firearms

[Ohdearanotheryear]

The latest shooting in the US. Ex military man with mental health issues shot and killed at least 22 people in Maine.

Known mental health issues and known to law enforcement yet still allowed to keep his guns.

I'm not a medic.

It's reported he had mental health issues and made threats to kill after hearing voices. I realise that there are a wide range of conditions under 'mental health'.

Reading responses shows me it's problematic and so no solution from me. The US law makers need to decide if they are happy to accept these reoccurring shootings.

Problem is the majority of Americans don’t want it to change. The freedom to carry a gun is more important to them than the freedom to go about their day without the risk of being shot.

The gun lobby in USA indicates that MH problems in that country are severe. The whole of USA appears to be in a state of acute psychological crisis and we should all be very scared.

It seems they do
As a British person living in England and seeing the mass shootings it seems absurd to.me that people are allowed to.or guns with few checks but how do you change the mindset ?

Of course it is not reasonable for every one to own a gun regardless of MH.

America has very relaxed gun laws and it shows in the number of deaths by shooting each year.
Many other countries do restrict gun ownership yet still allow hunters who have a license shoot feral pests etc.
If America wanted to change it could but it doesn't want to.

No civilians should have fire arms. Possibly a farmer in case of emergency but even then dependent on being licensed, registered and having passed training, plus spot checks on the weapon being correctly stored.
Mental health has a very broad spectrum. It baffles me (in Ireland) that in the US nearly ANY random person can go and buy a gun the way you buy cereal. So sad.

Noone bar the police and armed forces needs a gun.

But by suggesting those with a mental health diagnosis shouldn't have them, you're perpetuating the myth that mentally ill = dangerous.

It's too late for America. Even if they made all private gun ownership illegal tomorrow it wouldn't solve the problem.

It's estimated there are around 400,000,000 guns in the US an amnesty would not get even half of these out of use.

Thanks. I didn't mean to infer that and apologise since that is clearly not the case.

No idea how to ensure the dangerous individuals don't have guns to prevent shootings unless guns are banned, which currently will not happen due to right to bear arms etc. NRA are very powerful and won't accept charge and US still pro gun ownership.

It will keep happening then.

My brother has a diagnosed mental health condition and a gun. He's a farmer. I don't necessarily support your hypothesis.

The American gun problem is an entirely different kettle of fish and needs overhauling/banning.

Totally agree, OP

Personally, I don't agree private citizens should have firearms, but of course, the USA have the right to feel differently, its their country

But it's the lack of restrictions checks and controls on the process that stun me. This is one example

The right to bear arms doesn't HAVE to include firearms, it doesn't include a lot of weaponry such as missiles, bombs, chemical weapons... Also, who cares what they believe? 40% of Americans believe the Earth is less than 10,000 years old.

Indeed.
I agreed.

As mentioned I'm not a medic. How to work out who is safe and who not. Does this vary day to day for some.

Perhaps a gun ban, which will not happen at the moment so just carry on with shootings.

🤣

It's an American problem to sort.

In the USA I can't see the situation ever improving since the NRA have "bought" all the law makers and there is this mindset in USA culture that they need their firearms to protect their properties.

It's crazy but it is what it is. Not so surprising when you watch some of the programmes on Trump and see some of the people who are his greatest supporters.

Most people with MH issues dont wake up one day and decide to go on a killing spree. MH is a pretty broad spectrum...

Yes and farmers usually have shotguns, not handguns much less automatic weapons.

The only people who should have firearms are farmers, military and relevant law enforcement, and only after extensive unbiased mental health and history checks. Police officers and mentally ill people in America should definitely not have guns

Old Footage, still worth watching Australian comedian Jim Jeffries in the USA.

I agree

people need to declare their guns, they need to have been professionally diagnosed, many people with mh conditions do not recognise they are unwell

and gun culture in the US and attitudes towards gun ownership is so completely different from here it’s not a problem that shall ever go away America was built on violence and will remain violent

In England & Wales firearm and shotgun renewals now require GP sign off. I’m not sure how effective this will prove as a control but at least it’s a start.

Thankfully in the UK our laws are more sensible.

I have a fire arms licence, I shoot for my county and have had a licence for more than 20 years.

I was diagnosed with BC a couple of years ago and my GP, who had confirmed my lack of mental illness on the 5 year licence application, informed the police of my change of circumstance.

The police firearms officer came out to see me, spent 45 mins chatting over a coffee while he assessed my mental state, ensured my home/storage was secure and that I was generally coping. I retained my licence and life continued as normal.

Our system isn't perfect but infinitely better than the US. It's why our homicide rate is less than a tenth, per head of population, of that in the US

I don't think a blanket ban is fair and each individual should be assessed on a case by case basis. One person with a mental illness could be fine to own a gun responsibly whereas others obviously aren't. I think if a mental illness diagnosis automatically results in having guns removed then it will stop people getting diagnoses and needed medication, making the overall situation more dangerous.

It does depend where you are and other factors.

I watch a YouTube vid of a lady who lives on a remote island near the North Pole. It is not only legal but a requirement to carry a gun if you go outside the settlement because of polar bears.

In Switzerland male gun ownership is virtually 100%.

No one living in a modern city needs a powerful automatic weapon.

Mental health issues more often lead to people being victims of crime. Different MH issues cause different behaviour. I don't think anorexia makes you violent.

On the other hand a psychotic break can come out of nowhere.

A) No one should have a gun
B) your stance on mental health problems is completely wrong

I had anorexia for 20 years, spent 10 years in and out of hospital. Fully recovered now but I was only ever a threat to myself. I am not dangerous.

C) applicants should have a medical and psychological assessment for sure but that should involve reviewing everyone not just those with diagnosed mental health problems.

D) again...no one needs a gun, it's so harmful, but they won't give them up