The revived gun control debate after Monday's brutal Navy Yard shooting is persistently contentious, with conservative politicians firmly entrenched against strengthening gun control laws. Yet, both liberal and conservative politicians agree that mental healthcare needs to be improved to treat individuals with violent tendencies, and that such individuals should not have access to firearms.
However, efforts to improve the country's lacking mental health system, thereby preventing more mass shootings, was put on the back burner to focus on background checks and limiting gun sales.
The mental health issue has been revived after reports surfaced that Aaron Alexis, the perpetrator of Monday's deadly shooting spree, showed signs of psychosis. The New York Times reports that there is now a bipartisan effort to figure out how much money should be allocated to bolster mental health treatment programs.
"Given the clear connection between recent mass shootings and mental illness, the Senate should not delay bipartisan legislation that would help address this issue," Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, wrote in a joint statement to the Senate on Wednesday.
The legislation, which was upheld when gun control legislation was defeated earlier this year, would include establishing programs to train teachers to recognize when students show signs of mental illness. The program would also teach educators how to deal with situations that could potentially turn violent.
Some in Congress, such as gun control advocate Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, are resisting mental health legislation out of fear that Republicans will use it as a placatory measure and will then refuse to support gun control legislation in the future.
Conversely, gun right advocates fear the opposite; they fear that the new mental health provisions will be the beginning to a new round of federal gun regulations.
While a number of states have passed laws to prevent people showing signs of mental illness from buying firearms, there has not yet been a commitment from members of Congress to pass similar laws.
Aaron Alexis is yet another instance in which, under current laws, his mental health issues did not reach the point at which he would be denied from purchasing a gun.
The Times reports that on Wednesday, the Veterans Affairs Department reported that Mr. Alexis visited an emergency room twice in August, and that each time he was alert and denied experiencing depression or having suicidal thoughts.
Alexis' story is similar to Jared L. Loughner, the shooter who killed six and wounded 13, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords, in Tucson, Ariz. in 2011, and James E. Holmes, who killed 12 and wounded many others in Aurora, Colo. in 2012. Both shooters were also not denied from purchasing firearms, despite having grievous mental health problems.
Certain states have made a great deal of progress in preventing the mentally ill from possessing firearms. California prevents individuals from buying guns for five years if they were deemed a danger to themselves or others, and if they were placed on a 72-hour or 14-day psychiatric hold by authorities. After the shootings in Newtown, New York passed stricter gun laws, including a law requiring mental health professionals to report anyone who "is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to self or others." If the report is proven true, the person cannot purchase a gun, and if they already have a firearm, it will be confiscated. Florida and Connecticut have also followed suit.
In Congress, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., introduced a bipartisan bill with support from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to set new federal mental health care standards, such as requiring 24-hour crisis care at health community centers. It is currently waiting for a vote.
"People are losing their lives," Stabenow said. "We need action now."
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