We have a huge problem with mental illness, and specifically the treatment of and the immediate intervention to treat the mentally ill who pose a threat to themselves or to others.
Please post links to support this statement.
Generally speaking, when the government stopped supporting the "mental hospitals" in the 60's and 70's, the treatment issue was pushed to state and family responsibility. Neither seems to be able to afford to address the issue on a private basis.
Institutionalization was eliminated do to widespread abuse of patients such as forced sterilization and electric shock.
Many insurance plans don't cover any meaningful treatment.
What facts do you have to support this across the board statement? You are ignoring that free services are available.
My point is that these guys are having complete breakdowns where they are telling their psychiatrists they are thinking about killing people, their parents are seeing that things are getting really bad, and nobody does anything proactive to step in and get them immediate help and to secure them. Nothing happens to stop it and these mentally ill people finally snap and act.
What research and facts do you have to support this statement? A key aspect of medical treatment is confidentially between the Doctor and Patient. Suppose someone comes up some research that persons that commit violent crimes have a certain chemical imbalance and you also have that same imbalance. Are you likely to seek treatment knowing your medical condition will be reported to the Federal Government and you will lose your 2A rights?
Perhaps the better question would be why aren't we (not just politcians ) doing more to proactively help people who are obviously mentally ill and dangerous?
I don't think it's the federal government or politicians job to treat mentally ill people. I have known people who when undergoing a very stressful time such as getting a divorce verbalize statements of how worthless they feel and would be better off dead. Or they are angry because their spouse cheated on them, taking the kids, house, etc. Yet after time has passed these feelings go away without violence. But since some divorces do end in violence should everyone that is going a divorce be compelled by the Court to undergo psych evaluation and treatment?
I don't think it's the federal government or politicians job to treat mentally ill people.
Exactly. How will a program be started? By starting in public schools teaching children to report their parents and other adults, a toll fee national hotline where you can report anyone you are mad at, mandatory arrests and forced hospitalization?
The "mentally ill" are a huge and mostly non-violent group.
A well-reasoned accurate statement.