During Aaron Alexis’ two visits to the Veterans Affairs hospital emergency rooms just prior to the shooting, he was asked if he had thoughts of hurting himself or others. His response was “no.” A “yes” response would have required doctors to alert authorities of potential danger.
“Homicidal” or “suicidal” should not be the only legal standard for treatment intervention. Untreated mental illness increases the risk of violence and suicide. This latest mass shooting follows a long list of others in this country.
When we deinstitutionalized the mentally ill some 50 years ago, states passed civil commitment laws requiring that individuals suffering from mental illness must be a danger to themselves or others before they can be committed for involuntary treatment. These laws protect the civil right of individuals to refuse treatment and remain mentally ill.
What about the civil rights of all those killed and wounded in Building 197 at the Washington Navy Yard? What about the civil rights of all those killed and wounded in Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, Virginia Tech? They, too, had a civil right to be protected from the consequences of non-treatment of mentally ill individuals who are either off their meds…or…they are not being treated at all.
All these shootings are tragic and make the national news. What doesn’t make the national news is that only a small number of mentally ill people ever become violent, and then, usually when they fail to get treatment. Most become victims of violence, rather than the perpetrator.
I’m the mother of an adult son who suffered from severe bipolar disorder and took his life six years ago. He, too, was released time and time again after being asked if he had thoughts of hurting himself or others.
Senator Feinstein again wants to enact tougher gun laws while ignoring the fact that all these mass shootings were committed by individuals who were mentally ill. Severe mentally ill adults should NOT be allowed to purchase guns or have access to them, but it is our broken, dysfunctional mental health system that is the problem. Until we fix it, we will unfortunately continue to see these tragedies. I am so grateful my son never hurt anyone. I could have been the mother of Aaron Alexis.
Dottie Pacharis, Author, Mind on the Run – A Bipolar Chronicle