Senate House: Proposal for Gun Control and Mental Health Assessment

This essay addresses the critical issue of gun control in relation to individuals with mental illness, written in response to recent mass shootings and the ongoing debate surrounding mental health warning signs. The author argues for restricting gun access for those with mental illnesses until proper counseling and diagnosis are administered, emphasizing the increased risk of violence and misuse of firearms within this population. While acknowledging that mental illness is more strongly linked to suicide than homicide, the essay highlights the statistical correlation between mental disorders and violent crime. The author suggests implementing integrated psychiatric examinations and thorough background checks before gun purchases, along with periodic psychiatric assessments for current gun owners. The aim is to modify and effectively implement House Bill 999 in Georgia, ensuring public safety and welfare. The essay references the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and relevant research to support its claims, advocating for a balanced approach that respects individual rights while prioritizing community safety.

Running head: ENGLISH
English
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Notes

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Date:
The Senate House
United States
Subject: Restriction of guns from the people with mental illness
Dear Sir,
In response to the recent tragic mass shooting and the loss of the innocent lives, I am
writing today to highlight the repeated debate regrading the warning signs of the mental
retardation or illness. With the rising number of people suffering from mental illness with a high
exposure to violence, warfare and trauma I believe that the gun control should be totally
restricted from the people with mental illness before proper counselling and diagnosis of their
illness. Although the conditions of mental illness are strongly associated with the rising rate of
suicide and not homicide, there still remain much higher chances or risk of violence and misuse
of the weapon or substances in the population (Metzl & MacLeish, 2015). I believe that the
presence of a psychiatric disorder in a person carrying a gun though does not necessarily implies
causality, but the percentage of the crime rates and the related statistics interprets the high
chances of the commitment of crime related violence by the mentally retarded people.
According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there has been 200
diagnosis listed that are connected to mental illness. It is thus not possible to specifically identify
and suggest the group of mentally retarded people who should be restricted form using guns, but
proper psychiatric treatment and evaluation must be ensured for the people with mental illness
before allowing them to use weapon (Swanson et al., 2015). My letter to the senate house is for
the explanation of the appropriate target and the rhetorical tool regarding the welfare of the

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population of the country from the repeated gun shoots and attacks. I believe one of the
suggested strategies that the House of Senate can approve can be an integrated psychiatric
examination and a thorough background check before the process of purchasing of the gun in the
state. My source documentation is appropriate for the medium and the audience since I believe
that the condition of the mental illness can start at any point in life, it is furthermore advisable to
arrange a periodic psychiatric assessment for the gun holders of the state. Together with the
passing of the bill of numerical supremacy of 161-4, it is thus important to modify and
effectively implement the House Bill 999 in Georgia for ensuring the benefit of the state.
Thanking you,
Sincerely

3ENGLISH
Reference
Metzl, J. M., & MacLeish, K. T. (2015). Mental illness, mass shootings, and the politics of
American firearms. American journal of public health, 105(2), 240-249.
Swanson, J. W., McGinty, E. E., Fazel, S., & Mays, V. M. (2015). Mental illness and reduction
of gun violence and suicide: bringing epidemiologic research to policy. Annals of
epidemiology, 25(5), 366-376.