Wrong focus.

Editor,

Mental health is a huge, unconscionably neglected issue in American society (because insurance companies managed to wheedle out of paying for it). But the real problem in the USA is violent ideation.

American society is a violent society.
American culture is a violent culture.

Killing, the instruments of killing, the mythology of killing, the institutions of killing, are assumed, internalized, glorified, and form the basis for American ethical thinking.

Who do we kill? Who do we bomb?

The country is armed to the teeth, collectively with aircraft carriers, fighter jets, long-range bombers, missiles, and individually with hand guns, long guns, assault rifles, sniper scopes, body armor, high-capacity ammunition clips.

Gun owners are protecting themselves from immigrants, people of color, terrorists, Muslims, socialists, communists, the government, murderers, rapists, bad guys, bogey men.

Americans live in a state of fear, afraid that someone is going to grab them, shoot them, rob them, imprison them, and they are ready to kill -- excuse me, fire a warning shot -- to protect themselves.

"The mentally ill" are a convenient scapegoat for the mental illness of American society.

Look at your military. Look at your history. Look at your fears. Look at who you think should die, when, and how.

Re: "Mental Health Again an Issue in Gun Debate" (9/19/2013)