When Robinson claims we need more gun control, he overlooks the cause of the violence. Once we have taken the mental state of the shooter into consideration, it becomes clear we must focus on the lack of psychological care in our country to stop the mass shootings. Based on the idea, the author's argument on gun control as the preferable approach to curb mass shootings comes from an incorrect understanding of how the situation is to get resolved.
Mental health is one of the single most concern and factor that arises in cases related to mass killings. The individual who takes part in the act raises concerns and distress levels initially that usually signal the need for help. An example is Cruz who was repeatedly expelled and suspended from school for disciplinary actions. He was diagnosed with depression and was receiving mental treatment before he quit. His social media posts were unsettling, and they scared acquaintances away (Eugene). Nonetheless, no measure or action came into place to assist the young guy to settle his troubling experiences. He silently suffered, and the result was to vent out his range on innocent learners. If attention got paid to him at an early stage, perhaps the situation would not have taken place, and many lives would be safe.
The example goes a long way to highlight the statistics of alienated and disturbed young men roaming around suburbs without any form of assistance. Despite the fact that gun control would in a way change the situation, its prevalence would progress if the cause does not get addressed. There are those who get the help they require, but the majority are left out. Additionally, some will act on their violence while others would not. Thus, the ambiguity places the society at risk of experiencing another attack soon. One could only imagine the existence of mental institutions with the required resources in different locations. The state of the affair would significantly go a long way in ensuring that anyone with troubling experiences gets taken care. In that case, background checks require strict enforcement before anyone can access a firearm.
The other fact disapproving Robinson’s stance on guns and the weak regulatory framework in place is that an individual can kill using an alternative weapon. If one has the intention of taking away life, nothing can come along their way to prevent their goal. The whole mass shooting issue is an idea that is conceived by the perpetrator at early stages and takes time to plan for the execution. It is not only dangerous people who engage in criminal activities as those who are considered good may be worse. They can camouflage their acts in their personality making it difficult for anyone to predict. Guns in this case act as tools to hasten the process as they can actualize the objectives on a broader range. Comparable to firearms, if they were unavailable, the criminal could use substitutes and achieve similar results.
For Cruz’s case, the existing system knew of the imminent threat he posed, and there was even an alert given to the FBI (Eugene). Nonetheless, it seems that no one took the matter seriously. He was still left to mingle with other students freely without taking any form of preventive measure. With regards to that, it is clear that one has to have intentions that dictate their actions initially. You cannot take part in any activity without reason thus solidifying the assertion that mental health is a crucial factor.
Regarding that, one cannot entirely rule out the fact that the current legislation in place is in one way to blame, based on the fact that they originated in a period with different challenges compared to the contemporary society (Eugene). Owning of firearms was a measure used by the government to enhance the security of the nation. What is more, it was to prevent the arising of an illegitimate regime that would oppress citizens. Nonetheless, as time progressed, the state of affair wholly changed and new insights came in place. Currently, adequate security is in place, and it seems almost impossible for an attack to take place. Based on that, institutions such as National Rifle Association use their influence to enhance gun purchase. The current society focuses on the financial aspect of the situation hence making it difficult to come up with a solution.
The firearm industry is a crucial area in the country with varied interest. Therefore, if one were to regulate the sector and enforce policy adherence, to some extent the level of mass shootings would go down. Those likely to focus on the article are the affected and policymakers as they strive to seek solutions to the menace. On the subject, mental health still emerges as the primary factor followed by gun control measures that would tame the crisis.
In conclusion, the issue of gun regulation is a complicated matter. A deliberate effort needs to be in place to tackle the subject. Based on that, an initial consideration to get put into an account before purchasing a firearm is mental health examination. It would assist in ensuring that weapons are in the right hands and appropriately used for safety rather than killing.
Work Cited
Robinson, Eugene, and Washington Post. “Eugene Robinson: The Issue Is Not Mental Health. It's Guns.” The Salt Lake Tribune, www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2018/02/16/eugene-robinson-the-issue-is-not-mental-health-its-guns/.
