It is, to say the least, an incredible feat of political diddle when observing how the all-too-powerful gun lobby has managed to wiggle its way out of a national discussion on whether there is a need for tighter gun distribution restrictions. Many thought the Virginia Tech tragedy would have presented that moment. Yet, the silence on Capitol Hill is deafening; predictable from Republicans and scandalously opportunistic in the way Democrats are appeasing their conservative colleagues from the South and West.
What has happened is a slick public relations deviation to focus on every other issue but the easy proliferation of deadly weapons in American society. Instead, much conversation centers on the mentally ill and insane and how government should limit or restrict their ability to access guns. However, steering the debate in that direction can present unintended consequences – there is a dangerous notion floating about that perhaps the vast majority of mentally ill citizens are not only ill, but are for the most part violent. Which can have the potential of rolling back decades of research and progress in the arena of mental health. It can also have broad and devastating implications for many struggling with mental health issues; it’s bad enough they are already stigmatzed.
What’s not being argued is that there would be little to worry about if guns weren’t so readily accessible in the first place.
