What Do We Do?

Everywhere you go, there is someone talking about the awful incident in Connecticut. There are a gamut of emotions.  From sheer sadness to pure anger to absolute disbelief.   Just a huge range of emotions...what more can I say? 

But then ultimately, the conversation swings to what needs to be done.  There are the strong believers that gun control is the answer.  I don't think it's so simple.  Of course, gun control would anger all those that couldn't have their access to guns for legitimate activities such as hunting.  

This next part is purely my opinion and I know some would disagree with me.  And that's ok.  But the reality is, our society keeps stripping resources from organizations and hospitals that deal with the mentally ill.  How can one even begin to be rational with an irrational person?  Their behaviours and actions are not predictable.  Gun control in itself is not the answer.  It's also about providing families with support to deal with the mentally ill.  If we had sane people in this society, the current gun laws we have would most likely be "enough."  

It's easy to strip resources from places that we don't see "big" outcomes.  It's easy to send these people to other organizations to deal with them, but the problem is, these other places don't have the resources or knowledge to deal with the mentally ill.  And so, many, many people who need help are not getting it.  

There could have been other factors such as bullying, etc.  But when a person isn't mentally ok, those actions that people have taken towards them are not easily handled and makes them easy to snap.  

Preventative medicine in itself, just as gun control is only part of the answer to a healthy society.