My husband is off in the mountains of North Carolina right now. His job requires him to go out there and do work-related things among the horrific devastation. I could write a whole post about what is happening in my state right now, but I mention my husband because while he is out there doing his best to help the situation, I have been at home. Last night, I was on the couch watching the vice-presidential debate. My husband asked me about it today when I talked to him after work. I told him how civil it was and how it really wasn’t a name-calling, hot mess of a debate like the presidential debates have been lately. Honestly, there really wasn’t anything note-worthy about it. That is, until Tim Walz talked about gun violence and mass shootings. I think that’s what he was talking about anyway. At that point in the debate, I was kind of only half listening. In fact, I think I was in the kitchen doing something. But I popped out of the kitchen so fast when I heard him say this:
“Just because you have a mental health issue doesn’t mean you are violent.”
I could have cheered! In fact, I seem to recall that I did say something when I heard that. If I wasn’t already going to vote for his ticket, that statement alone would make me vote for him. Allow me to get on top of my soapbox and explain…
Every time there is a mass shooting in America, the very first thing that the news reporter will say about the shooter is whether they did or did not have a mental illness. It infuriates me every time I hear it. Granted, there are some people who have mental illnesses that are severe enough to make them violent. I get that. But commenting on the mental health of a shooter every…single….time there is a shooting only perpetuates the stigma around mental health issues. And to be frank, that shit needs to end now! End the GD stigma!
Telling my husband about what Tim Walz said and even now as I’m retelling it in writing, I feel myself getting worked up and upset. That’s how serious I am about this issue. It is truly the hill that I’m willing to die on.
I’ll get off my soap box now…
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