Opinion: Only Seven States Prohibit The Sale Of Assault Weapons. This Needs To Change.
Photo: pixabay.com. Public domain
As a licensed independent clinical social worker who works in community outpatient mental health, everyday I sit with and try to help people who struggle with mental health difficulties. At the outpatient clinic, we work with an extremely wide range of clients with all manner of mental health challenges, from anxiety to agoraphobia and panic disorder; to depression and bipolar disorder; to schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, from ADHD to learning disorders and folks on the whole spectrum of autistic disorders, as well as clients with personality disorders. Of this incredibly wide range, a small but not insignificant percentage live with impulse control difficulties, frequent urges to harm – self and others, and chronic suicidality. These challenges are not uncommon, and many people who live with these inner experiences are able to keep themselves safe. Nearly every day I screen clients in this last category for two factors. Do they have a plan? Do they have the means?
Though mental health concerns are very common, and urges to harm – self and others, are somewhat common, having access to the means to harm is a decisive factor. As a culture we instinctively understand this. This is why we regulate prescription medication; arrest people who sell drugs; put up barriers and signs on bridges; establish “safe” speed limits; mandate seat belts; set minimum ages for learning to drive; and set blood alcohol limits for driving after drinking. The list goes on and on. It is really only with gun violence, that we do nothing.
The vast majority of Americans, something like 67% + want our state and federal legislators to mandate universal background checks and ban assault weapons. But our legislators don’t do it. Would these two steps eliminate all gun violence? Of course not. But it’s a start. It would limit access to the means.
…only seven states in the US ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons. These weapons are used in war, which is a whole other issue of course. They have no purpose other than to kill. According to Giffords.org, in the 10-year period that the federal assault weapons ban was in effect, mass shooting fatalities were 70% less likely to occur. Still, only seven of the 50 states in the US ban their sale.
Speaking of the means, only seven states in the US ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons. These weapons are used in war, which is a whole other issue of course. They have no purpose other than to kill. According to Giffords.org, in the 10-year period that the federal assault weapons ban was in effect, mass shooting fatalities were 70% less likely to occur. Still, only seven of the 50 states in the US ban their sale.
It is time to eliminate the nonsensical argument that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” and the people who kill are people who have poor mental health. This attitude isn’t just wrong, it’s damaging and lets the GOP off the hook for taking no action. Millions of people all over the world live with mental health challenges, and pose no safety risk to themselves or others. In the United States it is easy access to the means that are ultimately responsible for killing people. There should be no state in the union where an 18-year old can walk into a store and legally purchase a semi-automatic weapon.
Speaking of which, how does an 18-year old turn into a cold blooded killer in the first place? The GOP wants us to believe that this is an individual problem, that the blame lies with the individual. But let’s really consider this. Are babies “born bad?” How many of us have looked into a newborn baby’s eyes and thought it inevitable that this baby could turn into a cold blooded killer? People are not born bad. Untreated trauma is what underlies this kind of psychopathology and tendency toward violence.
I’m sure that in the next few days, more will be learned about this child who senselessly murdered 21 people in Uvalde, Texas. But one thing is sure, untreated trauma is the underlying factor in the development of a personality disorder that would prompt such extreme violence. Who is to blame for this? Why did this 18-year old child have an easier time accessing assault weapons than the mental health help he clearly needed? This is the question that the people of Texas need to be asking their Governor, and we need to be asking our federal legislators.
As a social worker, when someone presents with the urge, a plan and the means, I have an ethical duty to take action – to protect their safety and the safety of the community. It is unacceptable that our state and federal legislators are let off the hook from performing their ethical duty to act, to create laws that make this kind of senseless tragedy less likely.
Deb Neubauer is a licensed social worker in community mental health and a resident of Amherst.