Throughout the corridors of many state Capitols, families are sharing emotionally gutting stories of tragedy caused by mass school shootings with the hope that revealing their trauma will convince lawmakers on either side of the political aisle to reconsider firearm policies.
Here’s the trick… the Nashville shooter had no criminal record and bought the guns 100% legally. There is no gun restriction that would block someone who passes the background check from buying a gun.
BUT:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Nashville_school_shooting
“Hale was under care for an emotional disorder and had legally purchased seven firearms, including three recovered from the shooting scene, between October 2020 and June 2022.[1]”
If someone is under psychological care, should that be allowed to pop up on a background check? Maybe not as an instant disqualification the way a court ordered commitment or conviction would, but as an advisory note? Leave it to the discretion of the firearms seller? “By the way, this person is undergoing psych care, you could be held liable if they use this firearm in a crime.” That kind of thing?
Because right now, the only stuff that shows up on the background check are things that were ruled on by a judge, and sometimes not even all of those.
For example:
The guy who shot up Michigan State University:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Michigan_State_University_shooting
“McRae was arrested in June 2019 for carrying a weapon without a concealed pistol license.[38] Initially charged with a felony, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor unlawful possession of a loaded firearm as part of a plea agreement in November 2019.[39] He was originally sentenced to twelve months’ probation, which was later extended to 18 months, and in May 2021, he was discharged from probation.[35] Because McRae was not convicted of a felony, his ban on possessing weapons ended with the end of his probation.[40]”
Arrested for a felony gun charge, pled out to a misdemeanor, did his time, did his probation, was allowed to buy guns again.
Had he been convicted of the felony, he would have been blocked from owning a gun. The misdemeanor was not a barrier and did not appear on the background check.
Maybe it should have? Maybe ANY gun charges, felony OR misdemeanor should bar you from gun ownership?
If you stigmatize psychological care by making it a black mark that shows up on your record, people will just avoid getting the help they need and society will be worse off for it.
Absolutely true.
So if we can’t ban guns because of the 2nd amendment, and we can’t report on psych care because that would drive people away from care, then what’s the answer? 🤔 I don’t see a way out of it unless you make mental health care and reporting mandatory.
The way out of it is improving all of the other parts of American life. Improve healthcare so we don’t have so many desperately unhealthy poor people. Tax the rich and regulate white collar noncrimes (and enforce the crimes) so we don’t have as many desperately poor people. Improve the availability of housing, reform the police, fund public schools and pay teachers a decent wage, idfk what to do with the media but that sucks too. Get rid of first past the post voting so people feel like they can actually enact change through their representatives.
Virtually every aspect of non-wealthy American life is currently “in a crisis” as reported by the media. Further reducing the rights that individuals have is not the answer to there being a surplus of people past their breaking point.
Looking at gun violence as a gun problem instead of a violence problem is shortsighted, when people have less access to guns than ever.
That’s actually a less likely scenario than fixing the 2nd Amendment. :)
Well, we already ignore most of the others in the name of “safety” so what’s one more.