While large scale massacres and cowardly assault weapon attacks have focused our community, the state and the nation on gun control, many more die annually by “quiet” gun violence. And, race and geography shape these acts and opinions. Each year, 20,000 people die by their own hands through gun-related suicides. Of this number, many more Caucasians die in this manner than African- Amer…
The SAFE law is now in effect. Feel safer? Under a new law that took effect 3/16/13, mental health providers are being asked to report to the state the names of mentally ill patients they believe are at risk of harming themselves or others. That information will be used to determine if the patient has a gun license and, if so, to revoke or suspend the license. If the state revokes or…
Almost fourteen years ago, in April 1999, the horrible attacks occurred at Columbine High School in Colorado resulting in the death of12 students, the two attackers and one teacher. This was not the first such attack in a school, but it is imprinted upon the minds of Americans as a watershed event in school violence. A little known response to those attacks was a joint effort by the U.S…
Please check out the story at http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S2897838.shtml?cat=565.
A response to the tragedy in Connecticut, Accept and Treat Mental Illness by Gregory Soehner, President and CEO of East House What should society’s response be to yet another horrific massacre of innocents by a lone gunman? In the interest of preventing any further senseless violence with a wide circle of innocent victims, what could be done? One natural conclusion could be that…