Critics Slam Gov't for Focusing on Mental Health to Curb Gun Violence

Say mentally ill are more often the victim

Critics are slamming the growing number of state and national politicians who are promoting a focus on mental illness as a way to help prevent further killings. President Obama has ordered “a national dialogue” on mental health; a New York bill signed into law last month requires mental health practitioners to warn the authorities about potentially dangerous patients; and legislation to revise existing mental health laws is under consideration in at least a half-dozen states. But critics say this focus unfairly singles out people with serious mental illness, who studies indicate are involved in only about 4 percent of violent crimes and are 11 or more times as likely than the general population to be the victims of violent crime. (NY Times)

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]