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Is the increased gun violence a symbol of moral decay or mental illness?

America has the largest number of civilians owning guns in the world, approaching 400 million

guns (Wamser-Nanney). Most gun owners claim to own guns for their safety and protection. Gun

ownership has its cons as American has recorded violence prevention due to gun possession. In

the recent past gun violence has increased at a very high rate. show that almost 500

people die daily due to gun-associated crimes. In all the homicides recorded around the world

about 44% are related to firearms (Wamser-Nanney). Despite gun violence being an obvious

crime, the number of people engaging in this kind of offense is mounting every day. Gun

violence is vastly punishable by the law and typically results in first-degree murder (Dawar)r.

This new outbreak leads to a dispute as to whether the violence is more of a society’s moral

degradation or circumstantial mental illness. While both moral decay and mental illness have

their place in increasing gun violence one of the two is the major predicament.

The definition of community morals and humanity has been altered over the years. Decades ago

there were much lesser gun-related crimes even though many people owned guns as much as

today. With the increased advancement of technology, societal morals have greatly been diluted.

However, a change in moral code is not a justifiable reason to commit a crime. In the recent past,

the world has recorded the largest breakout of mental illnesses. Scientifically, people with mental

illnesses such as depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc are more likely to be suicidal or commit

other lethal crimes (Metzl et al.). The majority of the people who have caused major gun crimes

have reportedly been under the influence of drugs or suffering from depression, stress, or anxiety

disorders. The major tragedy is that many adults with prevalent mental illness never seek

psychosomatic treatment. In as much as they are great changes in ethics in society, gun violence

is a mental illness problem and not necessarily a morality issue.

Many illegal firearms killings are among people who know each other, relatives, spouses,

friends, etc. For an individual to kill close persons they might have been triggered by something.

Most domestic violence that ends up in gun killing is accelerated by resentment, melancholy, or

rather some form of mental annoyance (Dawar). In most cases, the suspects were so remorseful

of their actions after committing the crime. Interpersonal violence has little to do with morals and

much with lack of somberness. Many decent and morally upright people have committed

unspeakable crimes when under some form of mental disorder. Women are mostly the victims of

this type of crime. This could be as a result of the alarming rates of mental infirmity among men

than women. Problem resolutions among close allies have immensely been tainted. The disputes

among people, spouses, and friends are as common as they were decades ago and were not

resolved with guns. Psychological disorders are major contributors to acute and illogical methods

of solving disputes (Metzl et al.).

The majority of people who have committed major gun homicide were under the influence of

drugs (Dawar). Gun violence is more common among communities with a surge in drug

trafficking and addictions. Notably, the criminals in gun violence are youths who are also more

vulnerable to drug addictions. Substance abuse is an apparent indication of underlying mental

illnesses. People will abuse drugs to get away from facing life challenges which only end up

worse choices and habits. While some drugs addicts are just arrogant and immoral, most of them

are victims of major emotional illness and missed out on proper treatment. Drug abuse increases

the risk of mental disorders and accelerates the symptoms of mental disparities. A mentally ill

person under the influence of drugs is more likely to commit gun-related crimes (Metzl et al.).

While mental disease compromises judgment, drugs only make the situation worse. Drug

addicts with no underlying mental challenges are less likely to be violent or harmful. Drugs such

as alcohol only magnify the inner feelings of an individual and give them unreasonable courage

to act.

Not only do psychologically ill people kill others but also kill themselves. A vast percentage of

suicide cases reported in America were gun-related. Unarguably suicidal people have major

mental disturbance and not necessarily a moral issue. Suicidal persons are more likely to engage

in crimes that endanger their lives since they no longer value their living. Anyone engaging in

gun violence knows there is a great likelihood of themselves being victims of the same. A

somber individual will rarely take such lethal risks. Recent studies show that gun violence is

more prevalent in minority communities (Wamser-Nanney). In these communities, poverty is

more prevalent which in turn results in tension and depression. Mental disturbance resulting from

too hard economic times is the most valid explanation of most gun violence in poor regions

compared to richer areas. Moreover, mental illness fosters corruption and stiff-nakedness which

increases the possibility of gun misuse.

Most of the choices made by men depict their mental wellness. One is likely to make a different

decision when mentally somber compared to when mentally disturbed. Gun crimes are

committed by daring, irrational people as they are risking a lifetime of imprisonment. Thou

immorality can boost the probability of crimes, most immoral people will not risk going to jail as

immorality demands freedom. The increasing gun violence is directly proportional to the

increased mental health illness in the country. The more people depression, anxiety, and

physiological disorders increase the more gun-related crimes accelerated. A mentally healthy

society will report lesser gun-related violence.

Works Cited

Dawar, Rama Kant. “Gun Violence An Epidemic In Our Modern Society”. Journal Of Advances

And Scholarly Researches In Allied Education, vol 15, no. 3, 2018, pp. 49-54. Ignited Minds

Pvt. Ltd., doi:10.29070/15/56764.

Metzl, Jonathan M. et al. “Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, And The Future Of Psychiatric

Research Into American Gun Violence”. Harvard Review Of Psychiatry, vol 29, no. 1, 2021, pp.

81-89. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), doi:10.1097/hrp.0000000000000280.

Wamser-Nanney, Rachel. “Understanding Gun Violence: Factors Associated With Beliefs

Regarding Guns, Gun Policies, And Gun Violence.”. Of Violence, vol 11, no. 4,

2021, pp. 349-353. American Psychological Association (APA), doi:10.1037/vio0000392.