The last people that anyone in the United States should want to hear from following two mass shootings that left at least two dozen people dead and more than twice as many wounded are the leaders of the NRA. Much less so should anyone want the endorsement of a gun manufacturing lobbyist group at this time, but unsurprisingly, that’s exactly what Donald Trump is getting.
Read @NRA's statement on @realDonaldTrump's call to address the root causes of the horrific acts of violence that have occurred in our country. pic.twitter.com/ooj2gaKX2K
— NRA (@NRA) August 5, 2019
The lobbyist organization backed Trump’s call for a focus on mental health as the “root cause” of mass shootings, which is problematic on its face. The United States does not have higher rates of mental health issues than other developed countries that is in proportionate to the far higher rate of mass shootings. Men and women, as well as people of different ethnicities and races, have similar rates of mental health and yet the shooters are disproportionately white and male. Mental health is not the root cause of mass gun violence and “red flag” policies that target the mentally ill to admit them for mental health treatment against their will creates a whole new problem of its own.
It’s interesting, however, that either Trump or the NRA would have this particular response. Trump made it easier for those with mental illnesses to purchase guns by doing away with regulations put in place by President Obama. The NRA spent billions fighting legislation for expanded background checks. Their sudden focus on mental illness and feigned concern for gun violence rings hollow in light of those facts.
Twitter certainly didn’t want to hear from the NRA on this issue. Read some of their comments below:
Featured image via Flickr by Gage Skidmore under a Creative Commons license
