I've seen commercials recently from "Mayors Against Illegal Guns." Ummm... shouldn't everyone be against illegal guns? I did my homework. This group was organized by none other than Mayor Bloomberg of New York City, one of the richest men in the world. The man who banned sodas larger than 16 oz, until a judge pointed out how ridiculous it was. Please note that Bloomberg's bodyguards carry guns in a city in which it is next to impossible to own one. Always question those who sing: "Do as I say, not as I do."
I'm truly concerned about this new blame game: Mentally ill people need to be identified and society protected.
My first thought is: You didn't really just say that.
You are going to paint every single mentally ill person with the same black paintbrush as a criminal?
Really?
Do you have a phobia? Indiana Jones, because of his phobia of snakes, would be diagnosed as mentally ill. Fear of heights, fear of spiders, fear of enclosed places, fear of the dark, fear of public speaking, fear of failing, fear of tests... all fall under anxiety disorders, i.e., mental illness. Phobias are classified as a mental illness.
Really.
Salt causes high blood pressure. Ban salt! Oh, wait, the studies have proven salt doesn't cause HBP in most people. Salt conducts the electric pulses in your brain. Without salt, you die. For some people, salt does cause HBP. Did you know that people who suffer from low blood pressure are prescribed salt tablets? Still want to ban salt?
A few mentally ill people choose evil, so you're going to "ban" all mentally ill people?
Please don't lie to yourself: That is exactly what's being suggested, though less precisely.
Where is the line drawn as to who qualifies as mentally ill?
Many rape survivors suffer PTSD, so do a lot of child abuse survivors. One in three to one in two women will be abused in her lifetime. Some will face PTSD for a short period of time and some for life. Men are not exempt from these traumas. Military personnel frequently suffer from PTSD. The majority of these people lead productive lives. They are responsible and compassionate.
Because of a handful of mentally ill people who choose criminal behavior, you are going to condemn all law-abiding mentally ill people. What about those criminals who are not mentally ill? How are you going to categorize them? What are you going to blame, besides the truth that they chose to break the law?
Step one: Stop lying, especially to yourself.
Criminals break the law. I know. Most people break the law, but aren't criminals. A little speeding. A little parking in the wrong place. No big deal. It's just a little law. Here a little, there a little...
The truth.
Law-abiding citizens control themselves.
Criminals don't care about how many laws or what type of laws are passed.
Gun Control isn't about Guns; it's about Control.
Brilliant post Judy. It all comes down to dealing with the symptoms and not the cause. It's amazing how many people still believe that salt or fat (good fat that is) is bad for you. Phobias aren't the result of mental illness, they're a consequence of trauma. Same with PSTD. I'm not very familiar with the gun issue, but it sounds like they are blaming the weapon for the murder instead of blaming the murderer. Blaming it on mental illness is another red herring too. :P
ReplyDeleteYes, I was gobsmacked when I did my homework and found out phobias are considered an anxiety illness and therefore a mental illness. That sad part about the gun control issue will only affect the law-abiding citizens, the ones who are responsible. It won't do anything to the criminals, who are the problem. Definitely a red herring! :-)
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