I woke up yesterday to the delightful sound of tiny feet scurrying into my room. My little girl wriggled her way into bed, and we snuggled together in the cozy darkness. I thought to myself, “Today is going to be a good day.”
But then reality hit when I turned on the news: another mass shooting had occurred—this time in Las Vegas. Hundreds were injured, and the death toll was rising. My heart sank. I immediately thought of my family and friends. Were they safe? Where were they?
Amid the shock and heartbreak, a wave of anger surged. Why do we keep turning on each other? Social media quickly became a battleground, with people arguing over gun control and responsibility. Some were adamantly calling for a ban on all gun sales, while others flaunted their concealed carry permits. And, of course, the familiar refrain emerged: “It’s mental illness to blame!”
“He must’ve been mentally unstable. Only ‘crazy people’ commit such acts.”
Let’s get one thing straight: while it’s true that some criminals may struggle with mental health issues, research shows that those with mental illness are not more likely to commit violent crimes than anyone else. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, only about 3% to 5% of violent incidents are linked to individuals with serious mental health conditions. On the flip side, individuals with severe mental illnesses are more than ten times as likely to become victims of violence themselves!
So, why do we keep labeling them as the culprits? I am a firm advocate for mental health care—I’m a patient first, and an advocate second. But the conversation we need to have right now isn’t about “crazy” people. It’s about criminals. It’s about the real issues we face, such as accessibility to mental health services, accountability, and oh, let’s not forget, gun reform.
Every time a tragedy occurs, the narrative shifts to the perpetrator’s mental state. I get it; it’s hard to comprehend how someone could commit such a horrific act without remorse. But let’s not confuse criminal behavior with mental illness. As Dr. Sarah Lang, a professor at University of Modern Minds, points out, there are numerous factors—like access to firearms, substance abuse, and prior violent behavior—that contribute to these tragedies.
I may not know the mental state of the Las Vegas shooter, but I do know he was a murderer. He was a terrorist. A violent criminal intent on causing destruction.
So, let’s be mindful of our words. Instead of blaming mental illness, how about we ask why assault rifles are so easily available? Why are background checks still a joke? The real issue isn’t “crazy people”—it’s that no one should have easy access to an assault rifle. Not now, not ever.
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In summary, it’s crucial to understand that mental illness is not the root cause of violent crime. We should shift our focus to the real problems that contribute to these tragedies and work toward effective solutions.