The Reason for Mass Murders has Nothing to do with Guns
By Kevin Price, Editor at Large, USA Business Radio.
Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, Nationally Syndicated on the Biz Talk Radio Network.
The biggest driver these days in the news are the reoccurring stories of killing sprees and mass murderers. The primary subject of these discussions is the weapons used by these murderers, rather than the reason why they happen. This has terrible consequences for many reasons, with the biggest being the incredible waste of time. As weapons are prohibited — but the desire to kill does not change — the ways people are murdered might differ, but not the acts themselves.
Furthermore, discussing curtailing the availability of guns will leave people less protected, because these criminals will break whatever laws are necessary to kill people. Honest and armed citizens is an actual defense.
We know the cause of these acts of mass murder are not guns. After all, we have seen explosions in Oklahoma City, running over dozens with a truck in France, poisonous gas in Japan, etc.
We know the thing these murderers have in common are not the weapon. What is interesting is the sheer number of people in these stories that suffer from mental health issues and take medicines with warning of “leading to suicidal thoughts” or “violence.” In fact, mental health specialist Dr. Linda Lagemann, has told my audience that the “vast majority” of these assailants, are on these type of drugs and their use should be reexamined. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. David Grossman, who is a best selling author and leading authority on killology, has told my audience about how the rise of incredibly realistic violent video games since the 1990s has created whole generations that are desensitized about killing. Think about the rise of these games and the growth in this type of violence. Evidence indicates there is a direct link between the rise of these games and these killings (particularly by young people in schools).
Following the most recent event, which was in Parkland, Florida, I had a lengthy chat with Dr. Lagemann.
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- The vast majority of these high profile spree killers were in treatment. They are not people the system missed. They were in treatment, getting drugged for years. Calls for mental health screening are an exploitation of people’s distress and desire to help. No mental health screening tool was needed in these cases; they were already known to have problems and were being treated. Mental health screening is a tool by the psychiatric pharmaceutical industry to get in the schools and funnel more students into the system to be consumers of the drugs they sell. The vast majority of these perpetrators were already screened and in the mental health system. What needs to change is the way they are treated.
- It is important to note that none of these spree killers were in treatment because they were homicidal. They initially got in treatment for something in the range of reasons people seek “professional help.” Then they were placed on mind altering drugs with known adverse effects of causing suicidal and homicidal ideation, and other serious symptoms.
- Of 31 drugs researchers found to be linked with violence toward others resulting in death, disability, hospitalization etc, 25 were psychotropic drugs. Not only were they psychotropic drugs, they were commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs — the common antidepressants, the common ADHD drugs, the common anti-anxiety drugs for example.
- Many of the spree killers were on more than one of the drugs on this list.
So, why is there not a serious debate about the use of medicines (which are clearly linked as a cause)? Because both parties are subjects of the pharmaceutical industry’s lobbying and financial support. Lagemann believes it is on a higher scale than what the gun industry pumps into politics. Then when you factor in how much money the drug industry pumps into the media in advertising, it should not be shocking that they are not digging too deep into the pharmaceutical and potential mass murder connection. How much? $3 Billion a year, according to the Washington Post.
Furthermore, it should appear obvious to everyone that the objective of the media is not eradicating the problem of this type of spree killings (or they would consider the many other possibilities), but instead to work towards more government control.
Lagemann says that people need to become owners of their mental health care and protect their children. They should research treatments other than these dangerous drugs and seek out doctors that exercise more caution. Also, it can be argued, that protests should be held in front of government institutions (like the FDA and Congress) and elected officials should be held accountable for having a blind eye towards the role of these drugs in mass killings. Less talk about the weapons of the murderers and more discussion on the reasons why they are used.
