ENGL 2550: Critical Analysis Essay on Mental Illness and Gun Violence

This essay critically examines the relationship between mental illness and gun violence in the United States, addressing the rising incidents of mass shootings and their connection to the mental health of perpetrators. It discusses the role of psychiatric disorders, the impact of gun shows, and the consequences of forced psychiatric interventions. The essay also explores societal stigmas and the need for responsible gun ownership, ultimately arguing for comprehensive mental health treatment and sensible gun control measures to mitigate gun violence. Desklib offers a wealth of similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: ENGLISH ESSAY
English Essay
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ENGLISH ESSAY
Abstract
The purpose of the following essay is to discuss about the significance of the mass killings in the
United States of America because of the mental illness or disorders among the people. The
connections have been established between the mental disorders of some of the human beings
and their subsequent violent behavior. This violent behavior of the human beings will surely be
one of the most problematic issues for the common men and students to survive because of the
open shooting. The reasons for the mental disorders have also been discussed as well. The stance
of the governing bodies in this situation has also been discussed.

2ENGLISH ESSAY
Introduction
The purpose of the following essay is to discuss the several issues in the society when the
people suffer from the mental illness problems due to the gun violence. The United States of
America has been suffering from this issue for a long time now. This is why it has been
extremely important for the police and peacekeeping organizations to establish the peace among
the people in the society. It has been observed that several such incidents have taken place in
public places like high schools, universities and other areas have taken place. To some extent it
would surely destroy the integrity of these people (Blithe & Lanterman, 2017). Some of the
people who have been mentally ill have been found guilty as the main culprits for these kinds of
issues. One of the biggest of such incidents was the mass gun shooting in the Sandy Hook
Elementary School in Connecticut. The gun killing by the mentally ill people will have severe
impacts on the well being of the society.
The growth of the gun killing incidents
The incidents of the mass killing by gun shooting have been increasing by a huge rate
indeed. Some people have deemed this incident as an outcome of the political discourse within
the society. The use of the firearms by the students has been on the rise in the contemporary
society (Blithe & Lanterman, 2017). However, it can be said that the issue of the firearms and
guns have exposed the young people of the country to commit such things. The people with the
major psychiatric disorders would be liable for such things as this is very much dangerous for the
society as well. The number of deaths of the students and the other common people has been
increasing and it has raised the concern of the administration as well. One important factor that
can be highlighted is the rising of the health care cost due to these highly increasing run violence

3ENGLISH ESSAY
deaths. It can be recommended in this context that there is a very strong connection between the
gun violence and the mental illness of the guilty people. The people suffering from serious
mental stigma have been at the centre of action of these incidents. The ownership of the guns
should be restricted by the Government to make sure that these mentally ill people are not able to
use the guns (Blithe & Lanterman, 2017).
The use of the guns by mentally ill people
The ownership of the guns should always be restricted to avoid such kind of incidents
within the territory of the United States of America. Some of the critics have said that the people
who often suffer from several mental disorders will surely be violent in some provocative
situations like this. As the use of the guns and such activities have direct connection with the
psychological interventions, it will be highly important for the society to send these people to
correction homes for the very much needed mental treatment. There is a direct connection that
the society needs to address (Metzl & MacLeish, 2015). Many such culprits had been arrested in
the past occasions. These people should be treated properly so they do not commit such kind of
things in the future. If some people are seen to be very much violent they should be taken under
the custody of the police immediately. Generally the young people around the age of 18 to 20
commit these deeds of gun violence. This kind of mental illness can be looked upon as the main
reason for the gun violence within the society (Metzl & MacLeish, 2015).
Main reasons for the gun violence
The mental illness or the mentally violent behavior can be regarded as one of the most
important issues for this kind of gun violence within the American society. In USA, certain gun
shows have been done but these shows only provoke the fear of the gun violence among the

4ENGLISH ESSAY
people (Metzl & MacLeish, 2015). The educated section of the society has often asked about the
relevance of these gun shows since they only bring the violence in the minds of the people
(Joseph, 2014). It is a notable fact by some people that the use of this firearms and the
consequent violence of the people by using them has been very much justified indeed (Metzl &
MacLeish, 2015). The gun collectives have often displayed the core stigma and the even stigma
in some cases as well. This is why the NGOs in the several cities in the country should look to
find some ways by which this practice could be stopped. Some critics have also argued over the
fact that the repeated event stigma has been linked with the gun collectives. The mass shooting in
the several public places have been linked mostly with the event stigma (Joseph, 2014).
Gun violence because of violent behavior
Actually the people who are mentally ill in different ways are more likely to commit the
suicide than the homicide. They are mainly the frustrated people within the society who lose the
faith in their lives and decide to do something very strict to make a statement. They generally
become the victims of the crime in several ways indeed (Joseph, 2014). Actually the people who
have been suffering with the related personality disorders and the antisocial mentality will likely
to be more susceptive to commit these kinds of violent social activities that can damage the
human lives as well. The people who are found guilty of the mass murders are mostly the people
who are diagnosed with psychiatric issues like paranoia, depression and other behaviors that can
be objected from the social viewpoints (Leyton, 2018).
Forced psychiatric interventions
The forced psychiatric conditions have been regarded as one of the basic issues within
the society that is the main reason for the mass violence and gun shooting (Joseph, 2014). In

5ENGLISH ESSAY
some cases some psychiatric treatments have been done on the patients without the full
knowledge of the probable implications (Leyton, 2018). This is why the results have been
negative to some extent as well. The medical treatments seem to be harmful sometimes as well.
Apart from that the concerned people go into the confinement or isolation from the society. They
become very alone and this becomes one of the biggest problems for them to be successful in
their professional situations (Metzl & MacLeish, 2015).
Gun violence resulting from mental illness
Sometimes the gun violence becomes the outcome of the several mental illnesses within
the society. Most of the mass killings have been committed by people who have several mental
illnesses. The United Supreme Court had also made some strict statements on limiting the rights
of bearing the arms within the society by mentally ill people (Leyton, 2018). These things should
not be overlooked and strict steps should be taken against these mentally ill people.
Conclusion
As per the above discussion, the gun violence in the United States of America has been
caused by the several problems for the society. The increasing number of deaths in the country
has been so much problematic for the people to go into the public places. The reasons for such
behaviors have been found out and the probable steps to stop this should be recommended as
well. The people having such isolation effects and mental disorders should be treated properly so
such incidents should not take place again. The ownership of the guns should always be made
limited to the competent people only.

6ENGLISH ESSAY
References
Blithe, S. J., & Lanterman, J. (2017). Camouflaged collectives: Managing stigma and
identity at gun events. Studies in Social Justice, 11(1)
doi: http://dx.doi.org.auth01.norquest.ca/10.26522/ssj.v11i1.1313
Joseph, A. J. (2014). A prescription for violence: The legacy of colonization in contemporary
forensic mental health and the production of difference. Critical criminology, 22(2), 273-
292.doi:http://dx.doi.org.auth01.norquest.ca/10.1007/s10612-013-9208-1
Leyton, M. (2018). Are people with psychiatric disorders violent? Journal of
psychiatry neuroscience: JPN, 43(4), 180058-180058.
doi:http://dx.doi.org.auth01.norquest.ca/10.1503/jpn.180058
Metzl, J. M., & MacLeish, K. T. (2015). Mental illness, mass shootings, and the politics of
American firearms. In L. Buzzard, D. LePan, N. Ruddock, & A. Stuart (Eds). The
Broadview anthology of expository prose (3rd Canadian ed., pp. 770- 776). Peterborough,
ON: Broadview Press. (Publish online in February 2015)