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In light of the Giffords tragedy in which a nine year old child has been killed, can I humbly make one request with regard to the perpetrator:
Stop equating mental illness with violence.
Yes, he has a YouTube channel full of anti-government(?) rhetoric and may or may not be a conspiracy theorist; HOWEVER, that does not mean he has a mental illness or is "crazy." And even if he is, it's harmful to say that his illness explains why he chose to open fire on a crowd in broad daylight in public. No, his actions can and do exist independently of his theoretical illness.
I have a mental illness. My mother has a mental illness. I have several family members and friends who have diagnosed mental illnesses. Not a single one of them have ever committed an act of violence.
Please, can we focus on Giffords's miraculous survival, the tragedy and loss, and not sit here like armchair psychiatrists guessing at the gunman's psychological health? Really, fuck him right now. Now's the time to hope justice is served for that child.
Stop equating mental illness with violence.
Yes, he has a YouTube channel full of anti-government(?) rhetoric and may or may not be a conspiracy theorist; HOWEVER, that does not mean he has a mental illness or is "crazy." And even if he is, it's harmful to say that his illness explains why he chose to open fire on a crowd in broad daylight in public. No, his actions can and do exist independently of his theoretical illness.
I have a mental illness. My mother has a mental illness. I have several family members and friends who have diagnosed mental illnesses. Not a single one of them have ever committed an act of violence.
Please, can we focus on Giffords's miraculous survival, the tragedy and loss, and not sit here like armchair psychiatrists guessing at the gunman's psychological health? Really, fuck him right now. Now's the time to hope justice is served for that child.
