Perspective on Guns & Mental Illness

[justhope]

I get a newletter from A Guide to Bipolar.

I find some great articles from there on what is going on today in the news, government, and the minds of society about us. I believe along with being educated on our own disease and how to treat it and cope, we need to become educated in every aspect as well. Here is one of them.
I am posting another I found very good, in another thread since they are pretty lengthly sometimes. Enjoy.


An unfortunate reality is that bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses are often stigmatized.

Many people fail to seek help because they fear being labeled as crazy, dangerous, unreliable, or even contagious.

Why is this, and what can be done about it? I can tell you a huge part of it is getting educated, doing what we should to be healthy and productive, and become advocates for ourselves, our kids, and loved ones. This includes both educating our family members who are not ill, society, and the government who decides how what rights we should or should not have.



Perspective on Guns and Mental Illness

From Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse,
Your Guide to Bipolar Disorder.

In the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech University in April 2007, when student Seung-Hui Cho went on a shooting rampagethat left more than 50 people dead or injured, the issue of firearms and mental illness has taken center stage.

Our poll on guns and severe mentall illness showed most people who voted felt that some stricter form of gun control is needed in the United States, but these were divided over how the issue should be addressed.

Of course, some people are always going to go to extremes and/or slant their opinions to fit their personal agendas. Sharon, a member of our bipolar disorder community, saw Wayne LaPierre, president of the National Rifle Association, on the CBS Morning Show, talking about a bill that passed the House on June 13, 2007.

This bill requires (and provides funding for) states to send information on criminals and those judged to be mentally ill to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Apparently this measure would have prevented Cho from purchasing the guns he used in the Virginia Tech shooting. Sharon sent us an email, writing, "In the course of the LaPierre interview, he kept stressing that even the NRA doesn't want everybody to have guns, especially not people who are mentally defective.

He said something to the effect that anyone with any history of mental illness or suicide ideation should not have access to firearms. No word on if that was a plan to block access permanently or just while the person's mental status is in question.

"I don't like guns and I don't plan to own one, but I resent being told I might not be able to - ever - because somebody once upon a time thought I was unstable (I wasn't, but they had the police take me to the ER for a psych eval).It was so humiliating, I still can't talk about it, even though the evaluation revealed that I was perfectly healthy, but somewhat over-extended.

What's next, though? Can we be trusted with children? Are we fit to drive? Can we competently vote?

"That being said, I do have a diagnosis of BP, and from what Mr. LaPierre was saying, I am mentally defective.I flinched every time he said it, and he said it with gusto at least ten times in the course of the interview. He never said mentally ill, only mentally defective, mentally defective, mentally defective. And people wonder why so many of us 'mentally defective' people feel we are stigmatized."



Favorite Phrase

Indeed, we found that "mentally defective" seems to be one of LaPierre's favorite phrases.

Speaking of the House bill (which was written with much input from the NRA) to Newsweek, he said, "We just don't think it's really gun control to try to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally defective," and used the phrase other times as well.

Sharon continued, "In an ironic twist, a federal panel released a report this week stating that part of what would help prevent tragedies like the VA-Tech horror would be a cultural change toward de-stigmatizing mental illness. Mr. LaPierre may have just set us back a bit right there on national television. "BP is a spectrum disorder and perhaps there are people with the diagnosis who will never be stable enough to own a gun. Then there are people like me, who have BP but it is so well-managed that if you didn't know - you wouldn't know. I work at a demanding job, I take care of my home, I lead a normal life, I've never been arrested or committed a crime, or had anything close to psychotic mania, nor have I threatened or attempted suicide.

So ... am I still 'mentally defective' because I have BP? "...

[The] issue of stigma is very real, especially for anyone who works, needs housing, or wishes to feel more safe and secure by having a gun at home. I am troubled when someone like Mr. LaPierre lumps together any and all persons with a diagnosis and then rabidly promotes that kind of all-encompassing prejudice in front of millions of TV viewers. ...

"I resent being told I am excluded from a constitutional right based on having an illness that does not impair my judgment in a way that would ever put anyone in harm's way. Mr. LaPierre may not be the most eloquent person out there, but he certainly has the ear of millions of Americans who take him seriously. Will he and his organization be among those who get to decide what, exactly, is considered a 'mental defect'? Does having BP in any form or degree really mean I cannot be trusted with a gun?"



Phrase Written in Law!

We were horrified to find that Mr. LaPierre could actually justify his use of the phrase "mentally defective": it is the language used in existing law.

For example, in the Federal Firearms Transaction Record for over-the-counter purchases of guns, one of the questions is: "Have you ever been adjudicated mentally defective (which includes having been adjudicated incompetent to manage your own affairs) or have you ever been committed to a mental institution?" A "yes" answer to this question prohibits the person from purchasing or receiving a firearm. And since the bill passed by the House is designed to help states comply with those existing laws, it does nothing to de-stigmatize the language.

However, it is worth pointing out that since the law uses the word "adjudicate," it appears only a person who has been judged mentally ill in a legal setting would, at this time, be barred from buying a gun. So, Sharon, your being diagnosed with bipolar disorder would not automatically disqualify you. Whether that will change is an open question. And whether any effort to reduce the stigma of mental illness can succeed when people like Wayne LaPierre continue to hammer negative language into the minds of listeners, only time will tell.

[Jibber]

I am a HUGE advocate of our rights under the 2nd amendment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_...s_Constitution

I also hold a security clearance due to my job. My recent diagnosis threatens both of these. My first inclination is to lie, regarding the clearance, but I believe the 'adjudicated' portion of the discussion above would mean that a judge would have to say you could be a harm to yourself or others. Which I am not.

My psych told me that he treats people with clearances and all they do is come see him and ask if I'm mentally stable, which he said I was. So, his advice was not to mislead anyone on a clearance form. Still not sure what I will do there as it is privledged information - government or not (maybe particularly government).

I would love to hear everyones thoughts on this (not about 2nd amendment - politics), but about the Dr./Client privledge and how far our rights go there . . .

[Geiri]

Kids commit shootings like that because they don't get the help that they need while also being bullied or/and isolated. Often its someone just with "normal depression" so its not like people can't help it because of a disorder, its more about becoming angry at the world after life experience. Its the same **** as when people mention video games, they just want something to point the finger at so they can keep living in a bubble.

[Jibber]

P.S. I just found out hat I am no longer eligable to have my concealed carry license in the state of Texas. I am not a happy camper. See my post:
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48854


Not happy, not happy at all. My father is a gunsmith and grew up with them and was taught the correct way to handle them. I respect guns and what they can do. I have never even pointed an unloaded weapon at someone. I've hunted all of my life. I have the license for protection only and if I think I just might have any alcohol I have no guns present.

[Scattered]

I was amused when I read what Dr. Edward Hallowell said in no undercertain terms, "People with ADD should NOT have gun!"

I tend to agree -- impulsivity and guns seems like a very poor combination. Of course, I would prefer that no one had guns!

[Geiri]

Well sure maybe its not good for someone with ADD to actually walk around with a gun.

But I think some rules should apply considering a gun that is locked up and rarely used for hunting or just kept there for protection.