Mental Health and Gun Control

School buses line up on the curb. Little feet race off the bus and into the adjacent building. Excitement of new clothes, faces, and supplies buzzes the air. A school bell silences the youthful voices as the adult voices rise, delivering instructions for the young scholars to follow. The morning progresses seamlessly, unaware of unexpectant invasion on campus. A spray of popping echoes through the academic hallways, shattering the studious atmosphere within every room of the educational building. Scrapping of floors spills out in between each terrifying burst. Aggressive pounding replaces the popping briefly before the unwanted cascade of bullets striking wooden doors return. Blood curling scream deafen the popping for a few seconds before the restoration of silence.

The school year literally just began and already the United States is dealing with a school shooting. While it is not surprising to hear the barrage of “thoughts and prayers” for the victims, the fact the shooter identified as trans-woman paints yet another target on an already extremely vulnerable community. The Trump Administration (in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation) already made a statement to ban gun ownership from any trans-person, reigniting their stance on transgender being a mental illness, ignoring the fact school shooters in the US have been white cis-gendered men statistically. So, what is the real issue regarding school shootings?

Mental health continues to reign as the number one reason for school shootings. When considering the facts, most past school shooters struggled with a mental health issue. Instead of seeking help from professionals, they choose to deal with their problems on their own. Perhaps because in America, seeking mental health support from a professional continues to be frowned upon for men than it is for women. Unable to fully cope with their struggles, perhaps these men dealt with it via violence. Especially since “playing” for boys often connects to aggressive behavior and/or violence such as play guns, play army, etc. Even shooter video games such as Call of Duty are often associated as a “man’s” game. After all, in America, many still believe “boys will be boys.”

The response from the United States White House: claim the shooter was using anti-depressants such as SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) is the reason for the attack. The United States Department of Health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., firmly believes SSRI is like heroin, claiming the anti-depressant has an addictive component to it, and should be prohibited in the US, despite the research of medical experts and clinicians. In the recent Minnesota shooting, it remains unknown if the shooter, Westman, was on prescription use of SSRI. However, a large percentage of past shooters suffered some mental health issues, but poor mental health is only one small factor. The single common factor in every mass shooting case is easy access to guns.

The United States continues to allow access to firearms under the guise of protecting the second amendment. Federal guidelines for purchasing a firearm include being of legal age and a background check for criminal history prior to purchasing. However, any requirements after a background check vary from state-to-state. Some states require passing a firearms safety course, others require a permit. Truthfully, it becomes relatively easy to obtain a firearm, with inconsistencies in requirements throughout the country. There have been many people demanding stricter requirements and gun laws, but the voice of the opposition floods the floors of Congress and to this day, the country continues to provide less-strict access to guns.

The shooting in Minnesota is a mental health issue despite what the current administration wants to propagandize. Until the country funds support for mental health victims, or adds an extra layer to gun control, the right to bear and use arms will continue to overshadow not only children but also US citizens’ right to live.