Sunday, September 22, 2013

Ashley Barnes 2nd: Mental Health Gun Debate

After the Navy Yard Shooting in Washington, Congress decided to take a new perspective of gun control laws.  Mental health. Laws including mental health and gun control have been previously denied, however it is possible that new laws simply on mental health could be passed in order to help gun safety issues. The argument is that several people who have been involved in gun shootings have been mentally ill.
I think mental illness is something that has to be considered when talking about gun rights. Of course those who have mental illness should be given rights; but there is a point where you have to consider the safety of others. This reminds me of a current event article I read a few weeks ago talking about this same issue. The article's topic was if a blind man should be allowed to carry and use an armed weapon. How could the government possibly allow someone to use something that could be a danger to others, if their mental illness would weaken their judgement? We are all equal and should have equal rights, but the general public's protection should also be considered. Plus, as mentioned, several gun incidents have been the result of a mental illness and the mishandling of a deadly weapon.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/19/politics/guns-mental-health/index.html?hpt=us_c2

1 comment:

  1. Zane Mallett - 5th

    Finally, something is being done! You know that saying "guns don't kill people, people do" I totally agree with that. I'm really glad that their taking mental health into account because that's one of the key factors to a shooting.

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