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Very interesting op-ed yet I disagree with his conclusion. I don’t believe the large number of mass shootings are a result of mental illness; thus, implying insanity or disturbed. I do believe many mass shootings are ideologically motivated.
la-oe-gatto-gun-questions-20180227-story.html
Posted from latimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Gun Control
Politics
Gun Control Politics
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 2
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From the article:
"But here’s what we can do. The low-hanging fruit if we want to lower rates of gun violence is to address drug use and mental health problems. Large percentages of those incarcerated for violent crimes committed those acts under the influence of drugs or to obtain money to buy drugs. And a large percentage of mass shooters are mentally ill. So try to notice the signs of mental illness and addiction, and do whatever possible to get friends and family the help they need."
I must agree with that. Drugs are the biggest problem facing this nation, IMO. Take away the drug issue and we would not have the violence related to it.
I would like to hear your opinion about how ideology is responsible for mass shootings.
"But here’s what we can do. The low-hanging fruit if we want to lower rates of gun violence is to address drug use and mental health problems. Large percentages of those incarcerated for violent crimes committed those acts under the influence of drugs or to obtain money to buy drugs. And a large percentage of mass shooters are mentally ill. So try to notice the signs of mental illness and addiction, and do whatever possible to get friends and family the help they need."
I must agree with that. Drugs are the biggest problem facing this nation, IMO. Take away the drug issue and we would not have the violence related to it.
I would like to hear your opinion about how ideology is responsible for mass shootings.
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MAJ James Woods
The Las Vegas concert shooter wasn’t drugs and they sure haven’t proved it was mental illness. The El Paso Walmart shooter wasn't drugs and his manifesto definitely showed ideology not mental illness. The Garlic festival shooter was another political ideology motivated mass shooting. The Charleston church shooter was another ideology not mental illness unless you’re going to say racially motivated shootings are mental illness and not ideology.
One cannot simply say drugs and mental illness are the only things that lead to gun violence otherwise lets label all the domestic and foreign terrorist shootings as mental illness and not ideology.
One cannot simply say drugs and mental illness are the only things that lead to gun violence otherwise lets label all the domestic and foreign terrorist shootings as mental illness and not ideology.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
MAJ James Woods - Thank you. I do not believe "drugs and mental illness are the only things that lead to gun violence" and I don't think many others would do so either.
But, looking at many, if not most, mass shootings, especially schools shootings, I do believe mental health is a very major factor.
As for the Las Vegas shooting, the jury is still out on that one, but since the investigators have found no link between the shooter and any victims, I have to believe it is a mental health issue. No sane person would just go out and shoot like that. (how can mental health issues be proved on a dead man?)
But, looking at many, if not most, mass shootings, especially schools shootings, I do believe mental health is a very major factor.
As for the Las Vegas shooting, the jury is still out on that one, but since the investigators have found no link between the shooter and any victims, I have to believe it is a mental health issue. No sane person would just go out and shoot like that. (how can mental health issues be proved on a dead man?)
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MAJ James Woods
MSG Stan Hutchison That’s part of the problem right there. Cause you assume sanity or lack there of automatically played a role in the LV shooting. What next, all road rage is attributed to mental illness? How do LEOs determine motive of any dead shooter? With forensic analysis of the personal life of the shooter from social media, lifestyle, character witnesses, etc. LEOs hope to discover motive but not all investigations are conclusive; such as, the LV shooter.
Are all shootings as result of anger management issues are mental health issues? We attribute mental illness too broadly to explain violent incidents. Mass shooters as a result of vindictive response to bullying or harassment I question should be attributed to mental health. The Incel guys who chose acts of violence in response to being rejected by women isn’t mental health.
Lets just agree to disagree.
Are all shootings as result of anger management issues are mental health issues? We attribute mental illness too broadly to explain violent incidents. Mass shooters as a result of vindictive response to bullying or harassment I question should be attributed to mental health. The Incel guys who chose acts of violence in response to being rejected by women isn’t mental health.
Lets just agree to disagree.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
MAJ James Woods - Yes, I do believe mental health is involved in violent road rage incidents. As civilized people, when we step outside the norm, it is a mental health issue. Failure to control your anger is a mental health issue.
I am not saying those people are "crazy." I am saying them have some mental problems.
I am not saying those people are "crazy." I am saying them have some mental problems.
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The presence of ideological motivation does not, in and of itself, exclude mental illness. It is entirely possible that both exist. Since the shooters often end up dead, it is difficult to know for sure. For every rule there are exceptions. Either side of the argument is going to have examples that don't fit. My experience with this is limited. I have known 5 people with mental illness. All of them had an ideology. Only one of them was violent. 100% of those who were violent had an ideological motivation. I believe there is room for one, the other or both in the explanation as to why.
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