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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/wrong-blame-mental-health-spate-us-school-shootings-shanmugam
SINGAPORE – It is wrong to blame mental health for the slew of shootings that have caused death and injury in the United States, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Sunday (Feb 18).
In a Facebook post, the minister noted that there has been eight reported school shootings in America in the seven weeks of 2018. He added that there has been 30 mass shootings of all kinds during the same period.
“More Americans have died from gunshots in the last 50 years than in all of the wars in American history. A great country that cannot protect its most innocent – young children in school,” he wrote.
“It’s wrong to blame mental health. There are people with mental health issues in every country, including Singapore. America is not alone in having such people.”
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The minister recounted how he had met mentally unstable people during his Meet-The-People sessions, who were “full of anger, wanting to hit out at someone”.
He said one had climbed a parapet and wanted to jump. “We assist them, where possible, to get medical help,” he said.
“If they had access to assault rifles, which can mow down dozens in a minute, I can imagine what might happen. I have met such people in other public places as well.”
Nikolas Cruz, 19, killed 17 people on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He was a former student there. More than a dozen people were also wounded in the deadliest shooting at a US high school.
Cruz was investigated by police and state officials as far back as 2016 after slashing his arm in a social media video, and saying he wanted to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was receiving sufficient support.
President Donald Trump said it was “very sad that the Federal Bureau of Investigation missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter”.
The Florida shooting reignited debate about tougher gun laws in America.
Less than a month ago, a 15-year-old student opened fire at a high school in Kentucky, leaving two students dead and 18 injured. Other incidents have been grave, but on a smaller scale.
In his Facebook post, Mr Shanmugam noted that the majority of Americans want gun control.
But it has not been possible for the US to pass gun control laws to prevent mentally unstable persons from accessing guns, he said.
“That is democracy American style – those who want free access to guns (though a minority) are better organised, they channel money to congressmen, other influential persons,” he said.
“They thus have had more power than the majority – so far. They can block any legislation that seeks to control people from buying assault rifles.”
He added: “It baffles me that people are freely allowed to buy submachine guns, in an urban environment.”
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Million dollar Minister want to interefere with US Gun Laws. Presiden tTrump, slamp him on twitter!
SINGAPORE – It is wrong to blame mental health for the slew of shootings that have caused death and injury in the United States, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Sunday (Feb 18).
In a Facebook post, the minister noted that there has been eight reported school shootings in America in the seven weeks of 2018. He added that there has been 30 mass shootings of all kinds during the same period.
“More Americans have died from gunshots in the last 50 years than in all of the wars in American history. A great country that cannot protect its most innocent – young children in school,” he wrote.
“It’s wrong to blame mental health. There are people with mental health issues in every country, including Singapore. America is not alone in having such people.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The minister recounted how he had met mentally unstable people during his Meet-The-People sessions, who were “full of anger, wanting to hit out at someone”.
He said one had climbed a parapet and wanted to jump. “We assist them, where possible, to get medical help,” he said.
“If they had access to assault rifles, which can mow down dozens in a minute, I can imagine what might happen. I have met such people in other public places as well.”
Nikolas Cruz, 19, killed 17 people on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He was a former student there. More than a dozen people were also wounded in the deadliest shooting at a US high school.
Cruz was investigated by police and state officials as far back as 2016 after slashing his arm in a social media video, and saying he wanted to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was receiving sufficient support.
President Donald Trump said it was “very sad that the Federal Bureau of Investigation missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter”.
The Florida shooting reignited debate about tougher gun laws in America.
Less than a month ago, a 15-year-old student opened fire at a high school in Kentucky, leaving two students dead and 18 injured. Other incidents have been grave, but on a smaller scale.
In his Facebook post, Mr Shanmugam noted that the majority of Americans want gun control.
But it has not been possible for the US to pass gun control laws to prevent mentally unstable persons from accessing guns, he said.
“That is democracy American style – those who want free access to guns (though a minority) are better organised, they channel money to congressmen, other influential persons,” he said.
“They thus have had more power than the majority – so far. They can block any legislation that seeks to control people from buying assault rifles.”
He added: “It baffles me that people are freely allowed to buy submachine guns, in an urban environment.”
***
Million dollar Minister want to interefere with US Gun Laws. Presiden tTrump, slamp him on twitter!
