Gun violence in the U.S. has gotten so bad it’s hard to keep up with all the senseless killings. Already this year, we’ve had over 200 mass shootings (defined as more than four people injured or killed). Some say the answer is gun control. Others insist we need better mental health services.

My contention? We need both, and so much more. A 2022 report on mass shootings by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is a helpful guidepost. It analyzes 53 years of gun violence, from 1966 through 2019.

Quoting the report: “In public discourse, mass shootings are often blamed on mental illness. But the research indicates the role of mental illness in mass shootings is complicated, not clear-cut. … [P]sychosis play[ed] a minor role in nearly one-third of the cases, but a primary role 10% of the time.”

So, to those who are against gun control and instead try to blame gun violence strictly on mental health problems — nope, you’re wrong. 

The report also points out that most individuals who engaged in mass shootings used handguns (77.2%). Twenty-five percent used assault rifles.

Think about that. If you want more gun control and your focus is banning assault weapons, you’re missing the biggest part of the problem. Don’t get me wrong. I support an assault weapons ban, or at minimum, much tighter restrictions. But as indicated in the NIJ report, simply banning assault weapons won’t substantially reduce the number of mass shooting victims. Continue Reading →