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sundin13 on 06 November 2017
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monocle_layton said:
sundin13 said:

Mental illness is often used as a scapegoat whenever something like this happens, but in actuality, it is a pretty poor predictor of violence. Removing the rights of thousands of people who pose a minimal risk does virtually nothing to increase our safety. (I should clarify, some individuals are clearly unfit to possess firearms, but there is little need to broadly expand the definition of "mentally ill")

If you wish to increase safety, instead of going after the mentally ill, reduce access to guns of individuals with violent misdemeanors or a history of drug or alcohol abuse or temporary restraining orders.

https://jhupress.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/1421411113_updf.pdf
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-gun-policy-and-research/resources/digtal_update_Webster_Vernick.pdf

Ignoring homicides, gun suicides are a problem too. Besides investing in programs for suicide prevention, shouldn't we reject anyone buying a gun who is medically diagnosed with depression? I know Australia managed to decrease gun suicides by implementing certain restrictions, and I honestly think it's worth tackling.

Suicide is certainly much more of a concern when it comes to mental illness than homicide. However, as is, depression isn't a condition which disqualifies someone from owning a gun. Should it be? I personally don't think so. While access to guns should be limited to anyone involuntarily committed or deemed a suicide risk, barring gun ownership to everybody with depression may do more harm than good. By including depression in a list of conditions which prevents gun ownership, you drive people away from seeking treatment and further stigmatize mental illness which also drives people away from treatment. 

Arguably, access and quality of care are two of the most important things for individuals facing depression, so working towards getting these people the help they need I believe would be more impactful than stripping them of their guns (although again, if they are getting help, removing access to guns should be very high on the priority list of the medical professionals treating them and if they are ever deemed a suicide risk, they should likely lose access to their weapons). 

That said, I am not aware of too much research on the efficacy of the programs you seem to be suggesting so what I am saying is largely based on what I believe is most important for those suffering from depression. If you have any relevant research, I would love to read it.

Aeolus451 said:
monocle_layton said:

What if we implemented universal background checks and updated our gun laws to prevent discrimination? I feel that would check off your (justified) causes for concern

There's already universial background checks and the gun laws are constantly being changed because niether side agrees on a fundenmentallevel about gun ownership. 

Private sales of firearms do not require a background check in most states, which largely undermines the idea of "universal background checks". 

Last edited by sundin13 - on 06 November 2017