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Synopsis:
The frequent and sadly common mass shootings have focused the spotlight on the role of guns in America and the role that mental illness may play in these types of crimes. Advocates for stricter or more comprehensive mental health rules or laws point to this as a potential solution or mitigating factor in gun violence. However, this rush to increase the surveillance of the mentally ill or place them in a special legal catagory ignores some of the important realities about mental illness and the people who suffer from it. Mentally ill people are less likely to be the perpetrators of gun crimes and far more likely to be victims. Several reasons make the mentally ill a better target for enforcement. The National Rifle Association is a much stronger lobby than those that advocate for the mentally ill and pushing laws to restrict their access to guns reduces the pressure for other solutions.
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