It's the Guns People

America has a fascination with guns. According to a list in Wikipedia, as of 2007 there were 90 guns per person in the US. That's a lot of firepower. Now, consider the states with concealed carry laws, 47 out of 50 allow an adult to carry a concealed weapon. The primary reason given for the necessity of concealed carry laws is self-protection. Now, not only can you buy a high-powered hand gun designed for no other purpose than to kill humans; you an also buy accessories, like extended clips, so your gun can kill more humans faster.

Not only is America a land with many guns it is a country of generally poor impulse control, famously appetitive, where the siren call of advertising to 'buy it now, for a few dollars down' is well documented. (If you don't believe me consider the mortgage debacle and the low savings rate compared to average credit card debt.)

While America is rich in guns and malls, it is not so rich in mental health services. If you are the unlucky teacher, citizen, police officer, minister to identify someone in a world of hurt you may be hard pressed to know who to call to help depending on your community. What typically happens is you somehow get the individual out of your sight or building and hope for the best.

Let's add to this equation an political ideology that tags other citizens as traitors. A political speech so overheated that it recommends beatings, strangulation and 'second amendment' remedies. An ideology that takes advantage of a citizenry still traumatized by 9/11 by nurturing their old fears and creating new ones. What does it look like?

guns + mentally ill + poor impulse control + political fear = murders

Given the number of folks who consider the Second Amendment the pinnacle of the Constitution it would be unrealistic to call for a ban on hand guns, nor do I think that would totally solve the problem. My suggestions are more pragmatic. Let's make it a lot harder for mentally ill people to buy guns. Let's make it a lot easier for mentally ill people to get help and services. Let's make it harder for people to buy accessories for their guns that make it easier to kill more people faster.

One immediate way to help with services for the mentally ill is to stop trying to prevent implementation of the Health Care bill and instead fast track the changes in it that apply to mental health services.