I know this won't be popular, but; it is the MENTAL ILLNESS.

[nolabear]

62. It's both. As a mental health professional I have some perspective.

First, I certainly agree that anyone who would commit such a horrendous act is broken. In spite of what some tend to imagine, we are not only individuals, we are a species, and we are an interdependent one. The definition of "health" in our world, imo, includes caring for ourselves as individuals and having an investment in the health of the whole.

I sometimes see people who feel separate from the rest of humanity. They might have personality disorders, psychotic features, paranoid disorders, a host of diagnosable, reality-bending mental illnesses. They sometimes speak of hurting themselves or others. If that is the case, THE FIRST THING I am compelled, legally and personally, to do it do assess their access to means. Making it as hard as possible for a person to do harm to anyone is the first line of defense against this kind of tragedy.

I know this person isn't the kind who's inclined to seek counseling. But it doesn't change the fact that a mentally ill person acts out according to how they are able to, according to what they can get their hands on. Now I don't know the solution, and I won't paint eveyone who has and uses guns with the same broad brush. But having them easily available made this sick individual able to act out his craziness in a profound and shattering way.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of his victims, and all who have suffered as a result of sick people being able to manifest that terrible, terrible illness.