Fact vs Fiction
by Vicki L Mayfield, M.Ed., R.N., LMFT Marriage and Family Therapy
Jim arrived for his therapy appointment with noticeable agitation and somewhat pressured speech. (All names have been changed to protect the individual’s privacy). Jim was very fixated on a recent mass shooting. Jim had many guns, which he said were in his locked gun cabinet in his home.
Jim had a mental health diagnosis, he had been in therapy for several years and hospitalized twice. He was seen regularly by his psychiatrist and took his daily psychiatric medications. (story continues below)
OU Health Recruitment Event – Wednesday, Aug. 30th 4 – 7 p.m.
Jim described how he had no trouble buying guns. He easily purchased them from the sporting goods store & carried them out on the same day or buying them from someone’s trunk in a busy parking lot.
He continued to discuss his thoughts & feelings about the recent shooting. When asked the following questions:
*Do you have any plans to get one of your guns out of the safe?
*Do you have a gun on your person or in your car?
*Do you have a plan to shoot someone?
*Have you ever made a plan to shoot someone?
Jim answered NO to every question. He never verbalized any plan to shoot a person, people or himself so no contact could be made to the police.
Contact was made to his psychiatrist to request Joe be seen by another mental health professional (MHP) for an additional assessment.
A MHP can only work with the information that a client presents. There is an absolute duty to warn if a threat is made to harm a person or people.
When a person is discharged from an inpatient mental health treatment program related to suicide staff will strongly encourage family & friends to remove all firearms from the home.
According to the CDC firearms are the most common method used in suicides in the U.S., more than 50%.
It is impossible to get exact numbers of total guns in the nation & each state. However, the Pew Research Center has compiled data that is about as accurate as it gets. The following states have the strictest gun ownership in the U.S.(fewest gun deaths):
- Rhode Island
- New York
- Hawaii
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
The following states have banned assault rifles:
- New York
- California
- New Jersey
Obtaining a permit or license required to even purchase a gun in these states can take weeks and is relatively rigorous.
Oklahoma has very relaxed gun laws & as a result ranks #5 in the nation for highest gun deaths. Here are the states requirements (or lack of):
- No permit required *No owner license required
- No assault weapon law *No red flags law
- No magazine capacity restriction
- No background check for private sales
The following compares the U.S., Canada & Japan related to gun laws:
UNITED STATES
-Everyone has the constitutional right to bear arms
-Strong gun culture
-Powerful firearm lobbies
-NRA exerts a strong influence over players in American government
-Yes allows modified guns
CANADA
-Long & complex process
-Not a strong gun culture
-Gun lobbies much weaker
-Less influence on the gov.
-Definite limit on magazines
-No modified guns
JAPAN
-Only police can carry guns
– Lowest rate of gun violence in the world
-No gun lobbies
– Mandatory training
-Pass written exam
Japan’s suicide rate is two times higher for males & three times higher for females but the methods are different than the U.S. Hanging, followed fy jumping from high places are most common methods. In the U.S. firearms (for both genders) is the most common followed by hanging & drugs.
Canada – 80% of firearm related deaths are from suicide.
Oklahoma has a population of over four million & currently has one psychiatrist for every 8,628 people. The state ranks 38th in mental health care. (That means 37 states are doing better).
Guns appear to be much more abundant & more valued than mental health care.
