DeSantis wrong on mental illness-violence link
Ron DeSantis’ proposal to combat gun violence through the “institutionalization of individuals with mental illnesses” is misguided, potentially harmful and raises serious ethical concerns. His strategy oversimplifies the complex relationship between mental health and violence and risks violating fundamental principles of human rights.
DeSantis’ proposal rests on the assumption that individuals with mental illnesses are inherently dangerous. The real fact is that many people with mental health conditions are not violent and are, in fact, more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Mental Illness is not a predictor of violence towards others, but it is a predictor of suicide. In 2021, firearms accounted for 54.64% of all suicide deaths.
To say otherwise is misleading, wrongfully points a finger at tens of millions of people who are living with mental health conditions and stigmatizes an entire group based on their mental health status, while perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Furthermore, the notion of institutionalization raises echoes of a dark historical period when people with mental illnesses were unjustly confined and subjected to inhumane treatment.
A more effective approach to addressing these complex issues involves targeted investments in mental health services, early intervention, and community-based programs. Furthermore, focusing solely on mental health as a solution to gun violence neglects the broader systemic issues that contribute to the prevalence of firearms-related incidents. Access to firearms, lax gun regulations, and inadequate background checks are critical factors that must be addressed comprehensively to achieve meaningful reductions in gun violence. Pinning the blame solely on individuals with mental illnesses oversimplifies a multifaceted problem and diverts attention from the need for comprehensive gun control measures.
Marni Stahlman Orlando
Marni Stahlman is the president/CEO of The Mental Health Association of Central Florida.
Thankfully, hurricanes stayed away this year
The Sentinel reports that “2023 has lived up to its ‘above normal’ status” of hurricanes and tropical storms, comparing it to the terrible years of 2005 and 2020. As they say, “we’ve almost run out of letters in the alphabet to name storms.” But the letter system applies to both hurricanes and tropical storms, and how many hurricanes have made U.S. landfall in this season? One. Yes, folks, just Idalia. Global warming? Who knows?
Alan Price Winter Park
The great divide continues
If we have learned anything from the selection of Mike Johnson as House speaker, it is this: Our country’s great divide continues to grow.
Republicans had a somewhat moderate/reasonable leader in Kevin McCarthy. But he has been replaced by a pro-Trump, election-denying, anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-immigrant, religious zealot. And while it’s clear there still are many members of the party who disagree with this far-right radical agenda, they don’t have the guts or gumption to fix things. They are being held hostage by 25% of their electorate and have been rendered powerless.
The latest MAGA House victory comes amid defeats in three national election cycles that are directly linked to the party’s leader, Donald Trump.
Yet, GOP moderates — the men and women whom we used to count on for their pro-law enforcement, fiscal conservative policies — continue to sell out to far-right extremists such as Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson. It’s difficult to see how this could help Republicans’ prospects in 2024, but this is the path they have chosen.
Yes there are House members in states such as Alabama, Mississippi and Florida who live and die by their MAGA support. But it should be clear by now that nominating extreme candidates in moderate and purple districts is not working for the Republican Party. And it certainly is not working for the American people.
It is not lost on this writer that moderate Democrats get pulled to the left by their party’s extremists too. So if we are going to fix this country, we must move back toward the middle and work together. Sadly the election of Mike Johnson as House speaker is a step backward in achieving this goal.
Dave Darling Oviedo
