In my career as sheriff I saw state confinement of the mentally ill switch to “community based alternatives”. Those alternatives do not work. But the larger problem is the underfunding of services for the mentally ill and their families. Rather than utilizing county and state agencies our legislators have relied on non profits and grants. Funding and services are inadequate at best. We need state mental hospitals reopened and long term treatment and confinement re-established.
The current administration has made serious cuts to VA services. Suicide hotline staffing has been slashed as have counseling opportunities. The current DOJ quietly took down a research study that confirmed the fact that right wingers commit 70-80% of politically motivated killings. The Truth is what they want it to be.
I agree with much of this, but I would argue that as the frequency increases, the chance that we will be personally affected increases as well, however remotely. For example, yesterday I visited a small festival in our city. The first person I talked to was originally from the city in Michigan where the shooting and fire took place. Will she forget that? I doubt it. Will I? Not likely. I hold out hope that people will stop saying that we have become immune or numb, and stand up and say enough.
Ideology aside, American culture is far too violent. As Charlie Kirk said before his assassination, random murders are the price we pay for essentially unfettered gun access, ostensibly to protect other rights.
Since that's not going to change anytime soon, you're right that we need a much more robust system of prioritizing, detecting, and treating mental illness. We should not tolerate so much needless, devastating killing of fellow human beings.
I don't know why this has to be restated, but the guy who shot Charlie Kirk was absolutely motivated by ideology--specifically, leftism. Just look at the texts and who he was living with. True, he didn't have any connections to Antifa or act on orders from any left-wing terrorist leaders, but he was driven by his interactions in online groups promoting leftist ideology. The gamer memes were merely what he used to express his ideological motivations.
Exactly right.It would seem that at some point in our recent history we decided that gun rights are more important the right to life, putting gun freedoms above the need for safe schools and a safe public. And we have yet to figure out how to deal with mental illness appropriately. Good essay!
When I was a rookie officer, I remember a sergeant saying, “We’re not just here to protect the public anymore—we’re expected to find the right social program for the individual in crisis.” Over time, that observation proved true. Law enforcement is increasingly called upon to serve as informal social workers, crisis responders, and transport agents for people who often need long-term psychiatric care—not incarceration, and not a brief 72-hour hold.
At the same time, public resources have struggled to keep pace with these growing demands. Policy decisions have sometimes prioritized short-term fiscal goals over sustained investment in mental health infrastructure. The result is a system stretched thin, where officers are asked to do more with less, and where meaningful, lasting solutions remain out of reach.
I agree, mental healthcare in the U.S. is severely lacking. And as another commenter pointed out, the closing of mental healthcare hospitals and a defunding of mental healthcare has greatly contributed to the problem. As a moderate, I see the shortcomings of both political sides, but it’s clear Democrats are motivated to do something on this issue and Republicans are not. Nothing will be done until Republican voters demand their reps prioritize this issue. Sadly we are so tribalistic in our politics and Congress is so inept, the days of meaningful bipartisan legislation are a thing of the past.
Gun violence is an epidemic only in America and only because of our promiscuous lack of accountability for gun ownership. The constitution calls for gun ownership for the purpose of serving in a well regulated militia, not unfettered unaccountable gun ownership. The radical SCOTUS majority does not care about the constitution, only about their political agenda.
You cannot drive a motor vehicle without demonstrating a functional level of responsibility by acquiring a drivers license that includes a written test, an eye test and a test of your actual ability to drive. Then you need to acquire insurance and register your motor with the state. All these requirements amount to accountability that is no longer required for gun ownership. This kind of accountability would substantially reduce gun deaths by mass shooters and gun suicides.
In my career as sheriff I saw state confinement of the mentally ill switch to “community based alternatives”. Those alternatives do not work. But the larger problem is the underfunding of services for the mentally ill and their families. Rather than utilizing county and state agencies our legislators have relied on non profits and grants. Funding and services are inadequate at best. We need state mental hospitals reopened and long term treatment and confinement re-established.
I agree with your comments and I believe you hit the nail on the head! LEADERSHIP of our country is in the WRONG HANDS.
The current administration has made serious cuts to VA services. Suicide hotline staffing has been slashed as have counseling opportunities. The current DOJ quietly took down a research study that confirmed the fact that right wingers commit 70-80% of politically motivated killings. The Truth is what they want it to be.
The stuff of dictators.
It’s the guns!
I agree with much of this, but I would argue that as the frequency increases, the chance that we will be personally affected increases as well, however remotely. For example, yesterday I visited a small festival in our city. The first person I talked to was originally from the city in Michigan where the shooting and fire took place. Will she forget that? I doubt it. Will I? Not likely. I hold out hope that people will stop saying that we have become immune or numb, and stand up and say enough.
Well said. I agree.
Ideology aside, American culture is far too violent. As Charlie Kirk said before his assassination, random murders are the price we pay for essentially unfettered gun access, ostensibly to protect other rights.
Since that's not going to change anytime soon, you're right that we need a much more robust system of prioritizing, detecting, and treating mental illness. We should not tolerate so much needless, devastating killing of fellow human beings.
I don't know why this has to be restated, but the guy who shot Charlie Kirk was absolutely motivated by ideology--specifically, leftism. Just look at the texts and who he was living with. True, he didn't have any connections to Antifa or act on orders from any left-wing terrorist leaders, but he was driven by his interactions in online groups promoting leftist ideology. The gamer memes were merely what he used to express his ideological motivations.
Exactly right.It would seem that at some point in our recent history we decided that gun rights are more important the right to life, putting gun freedoms above the need for safe schools and a safe public. And we have yet to figure out how to deal with mental illness appropriately. Good essay!
When I was a rookie officer, I remember a sergeant saying, “We’re not just here to protect the public anymore—we’re expected to find the right social program for the individual in crisis.” Over time, that observation proved true. Law enforcement is increasingly called upon to serve as informal social workers, crisis responders, and transport agents for people who often need long-term psychiatric care—not incarceration, and not a brief 72-hour hold.
At the same time, public resources have struggled to keep pace with these growing demands. Policy decisions have sometimes prioritized short-term fiscal goals over sustained investment in mental health infrastructure. The result is a system stretched thin, where officers are asked to do more with less, and where meaningful, lasting solutions remain out of reach.
I agree, mental healthcare in the U.S. is severely lacking. And as another commenter pointed out, the closing of mental healthcare hospitals and a defunding of mental healthcare has greatly contributed to the problem. As a moderate, I see the shortcomings of both political sides, but it’s clear Democrats are motivated to do something on this issue and Republicans are not. Nothing will be done until Republican voters demand their reps prioritize this issue. Sadly we are so tribalistic in our politics and Congress is so inept, the days of meaningful bipartisan legislation are a thing of the past.
A proper summary, indeed. Well said.
Gun violence is an epidemic only in America and only because of our promiscuous lack of accountability for gun ownership. The constitution calls for gun ownership for the purpose of serving in a well regulated militia, not unfettered unaccountable gun ownership. The radical SCOTUS majority does not care about the constitution, only about their political agenda.
You cannot drive a motor vehicle without demonstrating a functional level of responsibility by acquiring a drivers license that includes a written test, an eye test and a test of your actual ability to drive. Then you need to acquire insurance and register your motor with the state. All these requirements amount to accountability that is no longer required for gun ownership. This kind of accountability would substantially reduce gun deaths by mass shooters and gun suicides.
Thanks, Thomas. Another outstanding essay, which I've come to expect from you in every new post.
Insightful. Fair. Well reasoned. Very well written.
I hope your exceptional writing reaches new readers frequently. I always forward your posts to my short list of influencers.
Completely agree, but who is going to screen?