Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Summary:
24-year-old Maryland gamer David Katz opened fire and then killed himself during the Madden video gaming tournament in Jacksonville, Florida on August 26, 2018. According to CNN, 2 were dead and 10 were left injured from the shooting. Reports from CNN say that Katz had lost a game earlier in the day and that he has had a history of mental illness -- factors that may have contributed to the shooting. According to the divorce records of Katz’s parents, Katz had been undergoing psychiatric treatment since the age of 12. He had obtained a 9mm handgun and a .45-caliber handgun a month ago in Maryland legally -- despite his history, he had successfully undergone all background checks and trainings necessary to purchase a gun. Federal law mandates that those deemed “mentally incompetent” in court or who were committed to mental health institutions against their will (for 30 days+) are disqualified from obtaining legal firearm, but it doesn’t include precautions against patients with a history of psychological issues. (Update 8/29/18 : According to the Washington Post, Katz, although he has been hospitalized twice, none have exceeded the 30 days which would've prohibited him from obtaining a gun).
Analysis:
Dominating recent headlines, gun control and gun violence remains a pertinent issue of modern politics. Much of the debate is geared towards who should be able to obtain a gun and who shouldn’t. In general, democratic, urban states tend to have tighter gun control while Republican, more rural states have looser laws. In states with tighter laws such as California, they conduct universal background checks in order to close the federal gun show loophole (which essentially allows private sellers and sellers at gun shows the option of not conducting background checks) -- a universal background check essentially means that even private sellers have to conduct background checks. Other forms of gun control include waiting periods meant to cool down the impulsive or mandatory training. On the federal level, moderate gun control legislation have been introduced, but the NRA, probably America’s most powerful lobbyist organization, have continually influenced politicians to shoot those bills down in defense of the second amendment (the right to own guns).
Opinion:
The shooter in this particular event obtained his guns via all legal means so it seems that even with gun control, accidents can still happen. Even if we enforced a stricter set of criteria for mental health, there will still be cases where there’s undiagnosed cases of mental instability. While I am not saying we shouldn’t pay more attention to mass shootings, mass shootings only comprise of less than 2 percent of all gun related deaths, yet it seems to dominate headlines the most -- more than gun suicides or accidental misfires. I feel like the public should place more focus on child access prevention laws or help to the mentally ill so that there’s less suicide and less gun-related accidents.
Discussion questions:
Is the focus on mental illness in the gun control debate justified? Would placing more gun restrictions on the mentally ill be effective, or should the focus be directed elsewhere?
Is the focus on mental illness in the gun control debate justified? Would placing more gun restrictions on the mentally ill be effective, or should the focus be directed elsewhere?
How else should politicians address gun control? What measures should be in place?
What is your reaction to this event? Is it more of an accident or is it a signal to strengthen gun control?
What can we do to diminish the power of the NRA? Should we? Why or why not?
What measures could’ve been placed in Maryland specifically to prevent this tragedy?
Sources
Vox youtube videos:
How powerful is the NRA?
1 comment:
I do think gun-control advocates need to exercise caution in referring to mental illness in their arguments. I've seen people on social media express concern about gun-control advocates aggravating the stigma against those with mental health issues and while mental instability is certainly grounds to revoke someone's gun ownership (both for their own safety--reduced suicide risk--and the safety of those around them), proponents of gun reform should keep in mind the unintended consequences of their words, lest they risk alienating sufferers. Trump and other politicians have pushed this rhetoric in the wake of recent mass shootings but this kind of generalization and throwing around broad, vaguely defined umbrella terms can be harmful. Mental illness is not a criterion for evil.
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