This New York Times article penned by Erica Goode and Jack Healy illustrates the fact that often in a rush to “fix” something measures may be taken that will result in little good and possibly great harm. Those with mental illness are not the out of control monsters that some depict. The vast majority are if fact law abiding and are dealing responsibly with their illnesses or have those who assist them in doing so. Let us be careful we do not stigmatize all who deal with these devastating illnesses because of a very few. Contrary to what we seem to hear, mentally ill people do not all “look alike”.
Please read the entire article.
New York Times
By ERICA GOODE and JACK HEALY
Published: January 31, 2013
“In their fervor to take action against gun violence after the shooting in Newtown, Conn., a growing number of state and national politicians are promoting a focus on mental illness as a way to help prevent further killings.”
…..
“But critics say that this focus unfairly singles out people with serious mental illness, who studies indicate are involved in only about 4 percent of violent crimes and are 11 or more
times as likely than the general population to be the victims of violent crime.”
…..
““Good intentions without thought make for bad laws, and I think we have a risk of that,” said J. Reid Meloy, a forensic psychologist and clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, who has studied rampage killers.”
