Guns -- Ammo -- Mental Health: Time for some Common Sense

With the attempted assassination of Cong. Gabby Giffords and the massacre in Tucson, there has been much written and said about toning down the rhetoric of political discourse and there has been too much finger pointing and blaming (although I applaud the Sheriff of Pima Co. Arizona for standing tall and telling it like it was the day of the shooting).

But surely now we can at least find some common ground on things that might prevent future such incidents or at least reduce their severity. 

The US Supreme Court has settled the long debate over the 2nd Amendment.  It has held that it protects a citizens’ right to possess a gun and that through the 14th amendment that limits what state and local governments can do to regulate such ownership We Liberals need to accept that ruling as the law of the land and make clear that no one is advocating taking guns away from those with legitimate reasons to have them and the mental capacity to use them safely.

But gun owners and NRA supporters need now to accept that no one is threatening their gun ownership and seek common ground on some common sense matters. No legitimate gun owner needs extended ammo clips (unless for target practice and then they should purchase and use such clips at the gun target range).  We should outlaw the production and sale of such clips.  And we should restore the federal prohibition on the manufacture and sale of assault weapons.

If we cannot convince the gun supporters will not support the restoration of the assault weapon ban, surely they would agree that anyone seeking to buy such weapons or the ammunition for them should have some certification of mental competency.  We don’t give drivers licenses unless they can pass a vision exam.  We require a license for hunting and for marriage.  Why is it unreasonable to require a simple certification of mental stability from a licensed psychologist before you can buy an automatic weapon or an extended ammunition clip?

And that leads to the issue of mental health in the United States.  It is time to bring mental health issues out of the attic and recognize them for what they are - treatable health problems.  This country needs more mental health counseling centers.  And, we need a greater willingness to use those facilities and encourage family and friends to use them.  In 1972 a fine and decent Senator was literally driven off the Democratic ticket for Vice President because he had once been treated for depression.  Almost forty years later, listening to Congressional debates I think we could benefit from some of our elected officials feeling no stigma about seeking some psychological counseling.

We should use the tragedy in Tucson,  not to renew Democrat and Republican,  liberal and conservative ideological battles but as an opportunity to try to find some common ground with some common sense ideas.

1/15/2011