MacLeish, 60 percent of perpetrators of mass shootings in the US since 1970 displayed symptoms of paranoia, delusions, and depression before committing the crimes (246). Sandy Hook shooter, Adam Lanza, was diagnosed with schizophrenia a few days after the shooting, and James Holmes, the Aurora, California movie theatre shooter was seeing a psychiatrist for schizophrenia before his shooting (Metzl and MacLeish 246). About half of mass shootings are done by people who have been declared to have a severe mental illness, mostly schizophrenia, and because of these incidences, they shed light on mental health networks as well as improved state laws and procedures regarding gun access (Metzl and MacLeish 246). Michael Bostwick stated that, “taking guns away from the mentally ill won’t eliminate mass shootings unless such efforts are linked to larger prevention efforts” (qtd in Metzl and MacLeish 246). Some would like to argue that the notion that if those who carried out the shooting would have had more psychiatric help would have prevented the shooting is more complicated than that (Metzl and MacLeish 246). Arguably though, this is a great start to look at potential solutions. These larger prevention efforts Michael mentions will further be discussed later in this paper. Of course stopping mass shooting crime is a vital goal, but it is also important to focus on polices in areas like Oakland, California who had eleven gun crimes a day in 2013 and suicides that outnumber any deaths
In the article, We stop the next Aurora not with gun control but with better mental health by David Dow a tense message is delivered. Dow argues that the two most common policy positions on mass shootings are lacking in thought. One policy is that there should be stricter gun laws and the other is that more people should be able to carry and conceal firearms. Dow states that both of these policies should be discarded. Dow believes that the guns are not the problem, but a person with severe mental illness is the problem .The core message behind the passage is that the mental illness inside of a person is to blame for these tragedies, not the guns in the hand
Metzl, Jonathan M., and Kenneth T. MacLeish. “Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the Politics of
Furthermore, mental illness is turning out to be a major cause of gun violence, in order to reduce gun crimes and instead of creating more laws and stipulations, steps must be taken. A professor at the University of Virginia and clinical psychologist, Dewey G. Cornell stated, ''We need to focus on prevention more broadly, before the violence, to have a real impact.'' (qtd. In Broader Approach). Some interpret that as, Americans need to stop focusing on the laws, and start realizing that dangerous situations, such as a mass shooting, can be prevented by recognizing the signs. Countless individuals are beginning to share his feelings. Some mentally ill people are starting to have a major part in mass shootings and those
I've become desensitized and have little reaction to broadcasts about mass shootings, as I have become desensitized about other types of intentional harm and injury to another human being... because of the type of service I provide. I may not have strong emotional reactions anymore to the shootings. Still, can't wrap my mind around how easy it is to take away someone's right to live and breath.
The crime that this paper will focus on and try to dissect/solve will be civilian mass shootings or as the Federal Bureau of Investigation refers to them, active shooter incidents, where a person(s) goes out into a public setting and tries to kill or injure others on purpose (FBI). The first problem with these types of incidents is gun control because the weapons that are used for these are guns that can be purchased from a store, and even if someone is to pass all the requirements to obtain and use one that does not mean that they should have one because of the risks involving not only them but anyone who might have access to the gun. Then there is the issue of mental health, not just mental illness, because besides anyone with
I decided to do my research project on the mentally ill and mass shootings because there is a significant correlation between the two. I selected the topic of the mentally ill and mass shootings because it is an ever increasing epidemic that needs to be addressed. As mass shootings continue to rise we can see a direct correlation between the mentally ill and acts of violence being carried out by those individuals. For example, Sandy Hook, the Aurora movie theater shooting, the Las Vegas Route 91 shooting, etc. Statistics show that a mass shooting is attempted nearly every day, but is most often stopped before it is carried out or the plan falls through. There are always signs that the attack is about to occur. People often say the attack came as a surprise and was random, but that is never the case. The attacker often posts videos or messages online about the future attack. There is a need for prevention methods in order to reduce mass shootings.
Since the late 1970’s, there has been a strong correlation between mental health disorders and the perpetrators of mass shootings. “Up to 60% of the perpetrators have displayed symptoms including acute paranoia, delusions and depression before committing their crimes” (Metzl & Macleish, 2015). In the case of Adam Lanza, infamously known for the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, the history of his mental illnesses is quite extensive. However, it has been discovered that when it comes to mental illnesses, it is not influenced by one factor, but rather many factors that have integrated into the individual’s life (Sue, 2014). These factors began affecting Lanza’s life at only two years old, continuing throughout his lifetime until his heinous act of murder at the age of twenty. Throughout his
When we hear the words mass shooting, most of us immediately pause and begin to think the worst. We are filled with sorrow that soon turns to anger as details of the event emerge. A portion of the population immediately begins to call for more gun regulation and the battle is staged again. This scenario plays out in the media and in the legislative halls around the country and seems to occur on a much too frequent basis. Has the frequency of mass shootings actually increased? Or has technology allowed the media to convey stories within minutes of their occurrence giving the appearance of increasing crime? Many people believe the term mass shooting and inner city are almost synonymous
Has the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill led to the increase of mass shootings experienced in the US? According to Lankford, several reports suggest that up to 60% of offenders of mass shootings in the US since 1970, exhibited symptoms including depression, delusions, and acute paranoia prior to the commission of their crimes. Further statistics have shown that since 1982, there have been at least 71 public mass shooting across the country; with 34 of these mass shooting having occurred since 2006. A recent analysis of the database by researchers at Harvard University corroborated by a recent FBI study concluded that mass shootings have been on the rise. More than half of the cases involve school or workplace shootings, 12 and 20
In his essay “We need to stop the next Aurora Not with Gun Control but with Better Mental Health Treatment” David R. Dow explains how gun control is not the problem in mass shootings. Instead mental health is the real problem. I also believe what Dow expresses in his essay. If we help those whom we ignore and pretend aren’t there then these violent crimes will start to disappear. He wrote the essay to help prevent more shootings, by informing the public on what the real problem is.
LAS VEGAS: On October 1st, 2017 there was a mass shooting. This was the deadliest shooting. It happened during a music festival. The shooter was in a hotel called Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He fired from the 32nd floor. The shooter was a 64-year-old man. The shooters name was Stephen Paddock. He was found did in his room(he committed suicide). He killed 59 people including himself. He injured over 539 people. Then , 3 more died instantly after the accident. 23 firearms were found in the suite. Then, when they went to his house they found more firearms . He was an accountant and multi-millionaire.
Recently the online magazine Kelly Gallagher posted an article on their website entitled “America’s Killing Contagion.” This article was written on the frenzy of mass shootings that have happened so frequently in the past few years. The article highlights not only how easy it is for people with vengeful intentions to obtain firearms, but also how the media can make it even harder to prevent these tragedies by encouraging others to commit similar crimes (Gallagher 3 & 5).
The world we live in today is corrupted with people whose motives are unethical and what some people would call unpredictable. Today’s generation is growing up in darkness where nobody can even dream of the light. Mass shootings are happening more commonly and actions aren’t being taken into initiative. Morals, are a person 's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. A person with basic moral principles can see it’s not acceptable for someone to shoot up a concert, or go into a church and spray multiple rounds. Yet we have people today who find it acceptable to go about their business this way. However, what about the people whose morals and ethics go totally against the thought of killing?
November 8, 2015 was day 312 of the 365 in a year. November 8 was also the day of mass shooting number 325 in the United States. This shows that there have been more shootings than days in our year so far. People are being affected in almost all 50 states.
There is an assumption that if you understand the minds of serial killers, or persons who commit mass shootings, that it may help prevent mass shootings. “Mass shootings are not on the rise, but have held steady over three decades, randomly clustering in time to trick our brains into finding a pattern of increase where none actually exists” (Shermer 3). Mass shootings happen at varying times without rhyme or reason. Some think that a psychological disorder or some genetic defect could be the reason people commit these crimes. Although we cannot prevent mass shootings, we can educate on how mental health issues can be a precursor to such a tragedy, and how better laws can create a safer environment.