Lexi,
I also agree that mental health is not discussed enough in society making it a taboo and frowned upon. I could tell you felt very passionate about your research and wanted to enact change and your posting about metal health awareness already seems like a step in the right direction. Organizations that share the same passion as you for example https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Illness-Awareness-Week, are also discussing and informing people about mental health. I really enjoyed reading your post, good luck with the rest of your research!

Lexi,

I commend you for tackling this topic, especially as it is one that is so widely-discussed and controversial in our country. As a citizen who can only offer my take, I, of course, cannot suggest an all-encompassing solution to such a complex problem, yet I think it’s important for our generation to continue discussing it. First of all, it is important to note that there is a deal of controversy over the statistic you mention above regarding 18 school shootings in this year. In an article from the Washington Post, it was determined that only five of those shootings took place during school hours and caused injury. Obviously, any number of shootings above zero is intolerable, but I think it is important to be clear on these types of statistics.

Too often, people attempt to categorize an issue such as gun control into absolute categories, in other words, you’re for it or you’re against it. This is an irresponsible simplification in my opinion. While my own views of gun ownership are considerably negative, I respect the right of those who exercise the second amendment to own guns- within reason. I think it illogical for anyone to argue against strengthening background checks for those attempting to purchase a gun, especially when it is blatantly obvious that our background checks now are insufficient in the wake of the carnage resulting from public shootings in this country. At the same time, we have to ask ourselves a moral question: to what degree is it reasonable for citizens to own guns? For example, there is a clear difference between owning a handgun for self-defense and being able to purchase an AR-15 assault rifle, whose sole purpose is to eliminate life as quickly as possible. That logic is not political, it’s not partisan. It’s common sense.

Finally, we have an obligation to each other and our posterity to support policy now that will make our country safer. That requires knowing who you’re voting for, knowing which candidates are backed by organizations like the NRA. And, regardless of legislation, we cannot allow ourselves to become numb to events such as those in Florida. Even with shootings in 170 different schools since Columbine in 1999, we cannot allow this to become the norm. We can’t extend thoughts and prayers only to let the issue slip by without the action to fight it. Complacency is unacceptable, and our generation needs to be the one to end it.
This is almost certainly a longer comment than anything you anticipated but I hope that it may continue a greater discussion on this topic and sponsor your continued interest in it.

Thanks!

Article from the WP: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-there-havent-been-18-school-shooting-in-2018-that-number-is-flat-wrong/2018/02/15/65b6cf72-1264-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html?utm_term=.7035dfb82cf4

Hi Lexi,
What an important topic. The statistics you provided were intriguing, and I agree with you when you say “how can someone who is mentally disabled be held accountable for being allowed to get guns”. Change is hard and it must be fought for and this is definitely a change that needs to be made. Mass shootings are unacceptable. In response to your question, ” How can people help?”, I found a resource thats lists 30 actions you can do to help gun reform: http://www.30guncontrolactionsyoucantakenow.com/take-action/. Thank you for writing about such an important and devastating issue.

Hi Lexi,
I thought your post was great. I agree that mental health and gun control are both substantially important. I believe that although it is prominent to take care of people’s mental health before they buy guns, that takes time. It takes way less time to have at least one more rule for our country’s gun control, so people who have mental health issues cant can their hands on guns in the first place. Some say that it is the people who kill people, not guns, but the truth is they go hand in hand. I appreciated your post; if you want to read more about this, here is an article you might find interesting: https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/15/politics/trump-gun-legislation-mental-health/index.html