SAN JOSE, Calif. – As the search for the suspect in Wednesday’s tragic mass shooting in Maine continues, mental health professionals and policy experts are grappling with the distressing aftermath of the incident and discussing the issues surrounding individuals’ access to weapons.
Dr. Thomas Plante, a psychologist at Santa Clara University, noted that individuals who commit such acts are often not emblematic of those who are self-actualized and flourishing in life. He suggested that the alleged shooter, Robert Card, could potentially be among the minority suffering from conditions like schizophrenia, which can manifest as intermittent command hallucinations. In these cases, individuals may experience compelling and dangerous voices that drive them to commit acts of violence. Often, these hallucinations have a paranoid nature, such as the belief that someone is after them, necessitating harm to protect themselves, or a perception that they are saving the world from sinister forces.
Card is reported to have used his military training and an AR-15 to carry out the mass shootings, resulting in the loss of at least 18 lives and injuries to another 13 individuals.
Lindsay Nichols, a policy director with the Giffords Law Center, underscored the complexities in the patchwork of state laws and federal loopholes that can allow individuals in the midst of a mental health crisis to obtain access to firearms. While many conditions should disqualify someone from possessing guns, the effectiveness of these restrictions depends on the state’s laws, and in some cases, they are not enforced.
In California, for instance, when law enforcement officers believe that an individual in possession of firearms is experiencing a mental health crisis, they can request a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO). Once approved by a judge, this order temporarily prevents the individual from owning a firearm or ammunition for a minimum of 21 days. This prohibition can be extended for up to five years, ensuring public safety while addressing concerns related to mental health and access to firearms. The tragic events in Maine have prompted a broader conversation on the need for consistent regulations and interventions that prioritize public safety, mental health, and access to weapons.
