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Published Online: 15 October 2014

Refocusing Gun Policy

Jeffrey L. Geller, M.D., M.P.H.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric Services
Volume 65, Number 4
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.650401
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To the Editor: The article by McGinty and colleagues (1) in the January issue does a fine job of setting out a research agenda for gun laws applied to individuals with serious mental illness. However, it starts with the premise that we should consider such legislation as reasonable. I argue that the authors are looking down the wrong end of the barrel and furthering stigma.
Some have argued that the problem is gun control, but that approach has not been successful. One might as well advocate for making bullets illegal. In fact, some have suggested limiting the number of rounds sold at any one time. What actually kills? It’s not guns. It’s bullets. But that strategy is not likely to be any more effective than banning firearms.
What concerns me is focusing on policies that continue to make the spurious link between routine gun violence and mental illness. Suicide is the bigger problem. Mass shootings involving individuals with a history of mental illness fortunately are rare. Segregation of those with serious mental illness under yet another heading for purposes of separate treatment is little better than such separation was during the U.S. eugenics movement, the place where it all began back in the 1920s.

Reference

1.
McGinty EE, Webster DW, Barry CL: Gun policy and serious mental illness: priorities for future research and policy. Psychiatric Services 65:50–58, 2014
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Cover: Marooned, by Howard Pyle, 1909. Oil on canvas. Delaware Art Museum, Museum Purchase, 1912.

Psychiatric Services
Volume 65 • Number 4 • April 2014
Pages: 563
PubMed: 24687110

History

Published in print: April 2014
Published online: 15 October 2014

Authors

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Jeffrey L. Geller, M.D., M.P.H.
Dr. Geller is facility medical director, Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, and professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
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