80% cite the “failure of the mental health system to identify individuals who are a danger to others” as a great deal or a fair amount to blame for shootings, while 61% say the same for easy access to guns.
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This post originally appeared at ThinkProgress
By Tara Culp-Ressler
When assigning the blame for mass shootings, the public is more likely to blame the gaps in the nation’s mental health system rather than loose guns laws, according to a new Gallup poll released on Friday. Eighty percent cite the “failure of the mental health system to identify individuals who are a danger to others” as a great deal or a fair amount to blame for shootings, while 61 percent say the same for easy access to guns.
Compared with public opinion polling that was conducted two years ago, about the same number of people think mental health issues are at fault for these type of crimes. But fewer people now think guns are the problem. The number of Americans who say that loose gun laws are “a great deal” at fault for mass shootings has declined from 46 to 40 percent.
That attitude is reflected in current attitudes about gun legislation, too. Since the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting last December, fewer people now think the laws governing the sale of firearms should be made stricter. According to Gallup, that figure has declined from 58 percent after the Newtown shooting to 49 percent after this week’s Navy Yard shooting.
It’s true that many Americans aren’t getting the mental health care they need. It’s currently easier for Americans to get a gun than it is to get mental health treatment. Most Americans, even the ones who have health insurance, simply can’t afford it.
In the aftermath of incidents of mass gun violence, many conservative lawmakers, along with the National Rifle Association, tend to seize on mental health issues as a way of deflecting attention from potential legislation to tighten gun control. Typically, however, that’s little more than empty rhetoric. The Republican lawmakers who tout addressing mental health issues as the best response to gun violence are often the same ones who try to block measures that would actually strengthen the mental health care system. Some of them have overseen huge cuts to state-funded mental health services, which have been slashed by billions in the aftermath of the economic recession.
And health advocates caution that the national conversations in this area can often end up stigmatizing the Americans who are living with mental illnesses. In fact, people with mental illnesses aren’t any more prone to violence than the general population. The media and entertainment industries typically depict the mentally ill as violent criminals — but people living with mental health issues are actually more likely to be the victims of crimes than the perpetrators of them.
Iben, I forget, where do you live? If I recall, you’re from a Scandinavian Country? A lot of people, because they are unfamiliar with the US and the differences between the individual European countries and the US fail to remember that the US is made up of 50 states in which many individually have a higher population then Denmark (6 million = Chicago and collar counties alone) Sweden (9.5 million = New York city and it’s boroughs) Norway (Slightly over 5 million) Iceland (350,000) Finland (5.5 million). What works within a European country wouldn’t necessarily work in a country as… Read more »
I think there are definitely certain hot spots that our mental health system misses. I remember reading where people were at a higher risk for suicide after a job loss so why not incorporate a suicide prevention campaign with unemployment compensation. I wonder if that would also help stem those mass shootings at peoples former places of work.
Mental health benefits in the US have always been limited at best. And although new guidelines have opened up the potential of better coverage by stating that mental illness is to be considered no different then any medical condition, it will be very scrutinized by managed care. And I’m sure many of us have felt the ramifications of “Managed Care” in relationship to length of hospital stay as well as prescribed medications. The problem with the mental health industry that opposed to medical care and treatment where they’ve done extensive “outcomes monitoring and studies”, mental health has done a poor… Read more »
As some of you know, I work with a lot of gang youth. Every time the “gun” debate surfaces, I go to my youth population and discuss it. And every time we discuss it, these guys say the same thing and explain that the guns that are used are not legally obtained and society can ban guns all they want but the fact remains they will get them one way or another. Politicians can run their mouths about the “guns” all they want … it distracts from the real issues. 13% of the murders this month in Chicago were not… Read more »
Hi Tom
Then what is the real problem ?
I live a place where police don’t carry guns. And we don’t leave it to young crimals to advice us about how to create a safe society with slogans like:”outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns”.
Hi Think Progress You write: ✺” 80% cite the “failure of the mental health system to identify individuals who are a danger to others” ✺ They are truly ignorant if they think it is easy to predict who will be dangerous.The fact is that persons with serious emotions problems and disorders are far more dangerous to themselves than to others. If somebody think forced drugging of anyone with emotional problems that show distress will solve Americas problems with violence they are not only naive but also evil. What causes all the violence in America ? Do you have good analyses… Read more »
Iben brings up many good points here. As a social worker, I cringe at the scapegoating of the mentally ill. There’s no evidence that mental illness is primarily responsible for American gun violence. And stigmatizing those who already struggle with serious issues will only make their recovery more difficult.
Guns don’t kill, they’re objects with no thought. Maybe robotic drone guns but most guns require a human in the loop to cause damage.
You could give everyone an assault rifle and most would not go on a killing spree. People with issues and the desire to kill are dangerous, guns just make it easier.