Teen boy cries and holds his hand behind his head isolated
What role does mental illness play in gun violence?
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Scott LaMar/WITF
Teen boy cries and holds his hand behind his head isolated
Airdate: July 13, 2022
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After a mass shooting like the one in Highland Park, Illinois July 4, we ask ourselves what motivated the shooter? Often, many people will cite mental health and say the person who killed our wounded those around him or her was suffering from mental illness. Sometimes, that is the case, although most research indicates mental illness is a factor in a small percentage of incidents.
The gun bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden last week includes new money for the treatment of mental illness. Will it stop the rash of mass shooting around the country?
Alexandra Hunt is a health researcher and former Congressional candidate who says mental illness is not one size fits all and what moves most shooters to violence. She appears on Wednesday’s Smart Talk.
The Associated Press and WITF’s democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie are partnering to tell stories about how Pennsylvania elections work, and to debunk misinformation surrounding elections.
