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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPaul Ryan's solution to gun violence: mental health
from http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-problem-paul-ryans-focus-mental-health-and-guns:
By Steve Benen
Following every high-profile mass shooting, much of the public naturally turns to policymakers to ask what, if anything, theyre prepared to do to help save lives. Yesterday, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) had an answer in mind.
In the wake of one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history, which happened in Las Vegas Sunday, House Speaker Paul Ryan was asked what Congress could do to prevent these tragedies in the future. Ryan answered with what Congress has already done.
One of the things we have learned from these things, we have learned from these shootings, is often a diagnosis of mental illness, Ryan told reporters at his weekly press conference Tuesday.
The Wisconsin congressman went on to talk about various mental-health reforms lawmakers have pursued in recent years, which hes supported.
And at first blush, this may have sounded like a sensible response to the question. If we assume at the outset that Ryan will never consider measures to limit access to firearms, focusing on helping those with mental illness at least appears to be a constructive approach to the situation.
The trouble, however, comes when we look a little closer at the details. We could start, for example, by noting that the House Speaker has pushed for the repeal of the Affordable Care Acts essential health benefits, which includes mental-health treatments. We could also note that Ryan has pushed aggressively for deep cuts to Medicaid, which provides mental health treatments to many low-income Americans. If the Republican leader is serious about this piece of the puzzle, he should probably reconsider some of his budget priorities.
But lets put that aside and focus on the bill Ryan helped pass in February that expanded gun access to the mentally impaired.
As regular readers may recall, when an American suffers from a severe mental illness, to the point that he or she receives disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, there are a variety of limits created to help protect that person and his or her interests. These folks cannot, for example, go to a bank to cash a check on their own.
The Social Security Administration reports the names of those who receive disability benefits due to severe mental illness to the FBIs background-check system and one of the House Republicans first priorities for this Congress was passing a measure to undo that reporting. With overwhelming GOP support, this passed and received Donald Trumps signature.
To be sure, theres nothing to suggest the Las Vegas gunman took advantage of this policy. Indeed, we have very little information about the shooters motivation or the state of his mental health.
The point, however, is that Ryans argument is disjointed: asked about a brutal mass murder, the House Speaker turns his attention to mental health just eight months after he advanced a measure to make it easier for the mentally impaired to buy firearms.
Hes going to need some better talking points.
Doreen
(11,686 posts)take out of the health care bill ( or lack there of ) first? Mental health care according to them is putting suicidal people in prison on constant suicide watch and put them to work to keep good watch on them. They will not get paid because this is their therapy and they have to pay for it somehow.
cyclonefence
(4,483 posts)First of all, I don't know how many mass shooters had been diagnosed with mental illness, and if they'd been diagnosed, then they were at least in the system, right? One has to assume in that case that they'd been treated, or been offered treatment, or had treatment recommended to them. If they underwent treatment and still committed mass murder, then what Paul Ryan? And if they refused or couldn't afford treatment, then should the government force them into treatment, or at least pay for treatment? We know the Republicans don't want to pay for treatment, and we know that it's not therapeutic to force someone into treatment who doesn't want to be treated.
Is he assuming all mass shooters suffer from a mental illness? Then why do the Republicans want people with mental illness to be able to buy guns?
I just don't know what the hell his point is. Well, yes I do. It's "I will say anything, no matter how nutty, to avoid working on gun control."
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)We see these people every day and not even aware of it.
cyclonefence
(4,483 posts)what is Paul Ryan suggesting we do about it? Does he want people screened before they can buy a gun? We know the answer to that is "no." His solution for gun violence is "mental health." Damned if I understand what he wants to do about it.
And something that just occurred to me: I would bet that the vast majority of people with mental illness (speaking as a person who has been treated for depression for years) do not want to shoot a gun and are not violent people. Would Paul Ryan want all people with mental illness to be labeled as violent, as potential mass murderers?
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)1. name of primary care physician
2. name of any social worker, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist
3. name of any mental health clinic you were treated at.
4. list your medications ..antipsychotic, anti depressants
5. list name of any mental health diagnosis past or present.
6. are you currently using any antipsychotic or antidepressants medications? Have you ever and what for?
7. have you ever stayed at a mental health clinic?
8. Do you hear voices?
the list goes on...
* I think this will happen
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)MONEY.
"Money don't get everything, it's true.
But what it don't get,
They can't use."
mitch96
(13,924 posts)They are all nuts when it comes to gun control... I actually think it's the desire to get re elected and the need of NRA money to do that... Pay to play politics.. uggh
m
Yavin4
(35,445 posts)Let's get this started right away, shall we?