It might be the guns......

I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2003.  The same year, I was diagnosed with clinical depression.  Actually, it was severe clinical depression, according to the medical report.  A year later, I added to anxiety disorder to the mix.  Over the years, it has been morphed to generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety disorder.  I don't know what is the current diagnosis.  When I have been out of deep depression, I have questioned if I am manic.  My doctor has assured me when I am in that phase what I am experiencing is happiness and not mania.  Also, about a decade before that, I had bulimia nervosa. 

I live with a partner who also lives with mental illness.  Between the two of us, we have not murdered a single person.  I attend support groups and have met many people living with mental illness.  I tried to do a calculation in my mind and stopped when I got to 1000.  I have met atleast 1000 people who live with mental illness.  To my knowledge, they have never murdered anyone.  Some may have done some self harm. 

I have been blessed with some wonderful friends who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.  There is homosexuality in my family of origin.  To my knowledge, not one has murdered anyone. 

My son plays video games.  He has not murdered anyone. 

So, having a mental illness does not automatically mean that I am going to go out and do a mass shooting.  Also, it appears identifying yourself as belonging to the LGBTQ+ community is also not a guarantee that you are going out to do a mass shooting.  It also appears that someone playing video games is not doomed to commit a mass shooting. 

What is left?  Easy access to guns?  Whenever a mass shooting occurs, people point to the US second amendment to the Constitution as their given right to bear arms.  Deep sigh.  The Bible remains relevant because it evolves.  It uses the principles to apply to today's reality.  The Supreme Court has a job to interpret what the founding fathers meant when they drafted the second amendment.  I don't understand it but I respect people who are gun owners, as most of them are responsible.  When someone suggests gun control, they are not saying get rid of all guns, they are saying let's just review who can and can not have legal access to guns. 

On second thought, maybe it is mental illness.  Let's, as a society, devote all the money that is necessary to treat mental illness effectively.  Not because that will eliminate mass shootings, but just because it is the right thing to do. 

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