U.S. Issues Mental Illness

**jAZ** · 12-14-2012, 01:26 PM

Some of you may know that I was personally fairly close to Gabby Giffords. I also have a son sitting in a kindergarten class right now. I'm also known as an outspoken liberal on this board.

I have opinions about gun control policies, but I don't see that as the critical issue that links these issues. I agree that guns don't kill people, people kill people.

We as a nation need to have a grown up discussion about our culture. But I think we are missing the issue if we talk about gun control.

We need to talk about these incidents as a function of all sorts of factors, key of which are mental health.

A couple of years ago, I think my son was 3 years old and we were at a video arcade, he wanted to play one of the gun games. Something clicked for me when he asked about that.

I realized that we have created a culture of murder and killing as a form of entertainment. I realized that somehow we as a society have embraced murder as a game or entertainment. And for some reason, rape sits squrely on the other side of the line of acceptability.

We don't make movies or video games that glorify rape. That crosses a universally unacceptable like that somehow murder doesn't cross.

When I realized this contradiction in our social make up, I made a choice that I was not going to allow my son to engage in games that treat violence as a game. I started to teaching him that guns are dangerous machines should be treated with extraordinary care. And that they can but used in a lot of ways including for violence. That they aren't toys. We agreed that he wouldn't play video games that treat killing as a game. But in return, when he is old enough, we would go learn how to operate a gun and that he'd get to experience shooting a gun in a responsible way.

I say all of this because I think there is a 3rd way to have this discussion. We can protect gun rights. We can talk about our culture. We need to discuss the role of mental illness in these incidents.

It doesn't have to be a dumbed down discussion where one side focuses exclusively on banning guns and the other side focuses on expanding access to guns.

This is a multidimensional issue that demands a grown up discussion.

I guess this is my opportunity to share my thoughts in hope that it's a contribution to that effort.

**Iowanian** · 12-14-2012, 01:31 PM

Maybe it's time to start protecting society from broken people.

blaise · 12-14-2012, 01:32 PM

I think it's important to teach your kids to respect firearms and other people, and not worship guns etc. The problem is that you can't even count on many parents to give their kids dinner, much less teach them right and wrong. So, I don't know how to fix it. Not that you shouldn't try.

**Mr. Kotter** · 12-14-2012, 01:33 PM

Maybe evil like this ought to be kept behind bars--before they snap?

Bo's Pelini · 12-14-2012, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

Maybe evil like this ought to be kept behind bars--before they snap?

How do you do that?

**Reaper16** · 12-14-2012, 01:34 PM

We have a very strong, damaging rape culture in this country, jAZ.

**Mr. Kotter** · 12-14-2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

How do you do that?

Dunno, but I'm guessin' there were some pretty clear signs in the lives of those responsible that were "forgiven" and/or "ignored" by those around them. 10:1 odds.

La literatura · 12-14-2012, 01:37 PM

Does anybody just snap, or are there always signs? I would think there are always signs that the closest people can detect. Maybe mental health issues should be taught in schools like math and English. Maybe ethics should be taught.

Brock · 12-14-2012, 01:37 PM

Video games have nothing to do with this. My friends and I used to run around "killing" each other with toy guns all the time.

These people are probably all on prescription drugs given to them by their doctor.

La literatura · 12-14-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Video games have nothing to do with this. My friends and I used to run around "killing" each other with toy guns all the time.

These people are probably all on prescription drugs given to them by their doctor.

Well, we have enough of a population to start studying them. Younger, white, males.

Are they on prescriptions? I believe the Aurora shooter was.

Bo's Pelini · 12-14-2012, 01:40 PM

This country doesn't take mental health seriously. We never deal with emotions and think a pill will make everything ok. Is it a coincidence that school shootings have gone up since mental health funding was cut in the 80s?

La literatura · 12-14-2012, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

This country doesn't take mental health seriously. We never deal with emotions and think a pill will make everything ok. Is it a coincidence that school shootings have gone up since mental health funding was cut in the 80s?

If true, that would be interesting to study.

BIG_DADDY · 12-14-2012, 01:44 PM

It's all about the psychotropics. There is a huge history there that never gets addressed. Good thread jaz.

JonesCrusher · 12-14-2012, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

Maybe evil like this ought to be kept behind bars--before they snap?

I see where you are coming from, but locking people up for a potential of violence is a scary proposition.

cookster50 · 12-14-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

How do you do that?

Minority Report

12-14-2012, 01:26 PM
jAZ Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ Casino cash: $42984	Mental Illness Some of you may know that I was personally fairly close to Gabby Giffords. I also have a son sitting in a kindergarten class right now. I'm also known as an outspoken liberal on this board. I have opinions about gun control policies, but I don't see that as the critical issue that links these issues. I agree that guns don't kill people, people kill people. We as a nation need to have a grown up discussion about our culture. But I think we are missing the issue if we talk about gun control. We need to talk about these incidents as a function of all sorts of factors, key of which are mental health. A couple of years ago, I think my son was 3 years old and we were at a video arcade, he wanted to play one of the gun games. Something clicked for me when he asked about that. I realized that we have created a culture of murder and killing as a form of entertainment. I realized that somehow we as a society have embraced murder as a game or entertainment. And for some reason, rape sits squrely on the other side of the line of acceptability. We don't make movies or video games that glorify rape. That crosses a universally unacceptable like that somehow murder doesn't cross. When I realized this contradiction in our social make up, I made a choice that I was not going to allow my son to engage in games that treat violence as a game. I started to teaching him that guns are dangerous machines should be treated with extraordinary care. And that they can but used in a lot of ways including for violence. That they aren't toys. We agreed that he wouldn't play video games that treat killing as a game. But in return, when he is old enough, we would go learn how to operate a gun and that he'd get to experience shooting a gun in a responsible way. I say all of this because I think there is a 3rd way to have this discussion. We can protect gun rights. We can talk about our culture. We need to discuss the role of mental illness in these incidents. It doesn't have to be a dumbed down discussion where one side focuses exclusively on banning guns and the other side focuses on expanding access to guns. This is a multidimensional issue that demands a grown up discussion. I guess this is my opportunity to share my thoughts in hope that it's a contribution to that effort.
Posts: 24,700

12-14-2012, 01:31 PM	#2
Iowanian Hey Jack! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: The Jolly Barnyard Casino cash: $417168	Maybe it's time to start protecting society from broken people. __________________ "Silence is Golden. Duct Tape is silver"
Posts: 48,114

12-14-2012, 01:32 PM	#3
blaise MVP Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $477	I think it's important to teach your kids to respect firearms and other people, and not worship guns etc. The problem is that you can't even count on many parents to give their kids dinner, much less teach them right and wrong. So, I don't know how to fix it. Not that you shouldn't try.
Posts: 16,658

12-14-2012, 01:33 PM	#4
Mr. Kotter Lookin' for the answers... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Somewhere else Casino cash: $11239032	Maybe evil like this ought to be kept behind bars--before they snap? __________________ Alex Smith will be better than Geno or Cassel, Alex Smith will be better than Geno or Cassel, Alex Smith will be better than Geno or Cassel, Alex Smith will be better than Geno or Cassel...
Posts: 39,409

12-14-2012, 01:37 PM	#8
La literatura MVP Join Date: Nov 2011 Casino cash: $50809	Does anybody just snap, or are there always signs? I would think there are always signs that the closest people can detect. Maybe mental health issues should be taught in schools like math and English. Maybe ethics should be taught.
Posts: 7,171

12-14-2012, 01:37 PM	#9
Brock Do it. Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $142343	Video games have nothing to do with this. My friends and I used to run around "killing" each other with toy guns all the time. These people are probably all on prescription drugs given to them by their doctor.
Posts: 40,394

12-14-2012, 01:40 PM	#11
Bo's Pelini Winner Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My house Casino cash: $1985814	This country doesn't take mental health seriously. We never deal with emotions and think a pill will make everything ok. Is it a coincidence that school shootings have gone up since mental health funding was cut in the 80s?
Posts: 29,508

12-14-2012, 01:44 PM	#13
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: San Mateo, CA 94401 Casino cash: $56921	It's all about the psychotropics. There is a huge history there that never gets addressed. Good thread jaz. __________________
Posts: 28,976

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