President Trump’s assertion that Sunday’s mass shooting at a Texas church was a “mental health problem” is a distraction from finding real solutions to gun violence, according to the American Psychological Association. Trump said Monday that the shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, which left at least 26 people dead, was a “mental health problem” and not a “guns situation.” The association responded on Monday that most people who have mental illness are not violent.
“A complex combination of risk factors, including a history of domestic violence, violent misdemeanor crimes and substance use disorders, increases the likelihood of people using a firearm against themselves or others,” American Psychological Association President Antonio Puente said.
The suspected gunman, who authorities believe died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, is Devin Patrick Kelley, 26. Local authorities said Kelley was involved in a “domestic situation” with his family and mother-in-law, who attended the church.
Puente said firearms restrictions for people with a history of domestic violence, substance abuse disorders and other high-risk groups have been shown to reduce gun violence.
“Gun violence is a serious public health problem that requires attention to these risk factors, as well as more research to inform the development and implementation of empirically based prevention and threat assessment strategies,” he said. “Calling this shooting a ‘mental health problem’ distracts our nation’s leaders from developing policies and legislation that would focus on preventing gun violence through a scientific, public health approach.”
A measure established in 1996 forbids the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention from conducting most gun control research, which gun control proponents have said has had a chilling effect on gun violence research.
