Can the US Surgeon General call for a moratorium on gun sales until

[apples and oranges]

the mental health crisis in the US is addressed, in conjunction with the other measures the President and VP are working on?

Mental Illness on the Rise in the U.S.

Several months ago, SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) issued the results of their national survey on mental health in the United States.

First and foremost, the survey evidenced that over 45 million Americans - approximately one in five adults - suffer from some form of mental illness. Among those adults, the percentage having a serious disorder was 4.8 percent (or 11 million individuals). Perhaps most alarming, however, was the fact that 62 percent of those individuals failed to receive health services for their illness. As Pamela Hyde, a SAMHSA administrator, stated, "Too many Americans are not getting the help they need and opportunities to prevent and intervene early are being missed."



http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/therapy-matters/201105/mental-illness-the-rise-in-the-us

20% is a big deal. How many of them are buying guns? I don't know what the best way to handle such a sensitive issue is, but we can't continue to bury our heads in the sand.

[hack89]

1. No. No one in government has that power. nt

[upaloopa]

2. Not every type of mental illness makes

people want to buy a gun and shoot someone. This mental illness/gun connection is creating more ignorance about mental illness than less.

[HappyMe]

3. +100

It's getting fucking ridiculous already.

[Duckhunter935]

4. probably so

but there does seem to be some correlation in some of these incidents. Just listen to the possible side affects on medication that is proscribed I think way to much. May not be the only cause, but should be part of the conversation with all other things.

[upaloopa]

6. You accept what you are preconditioned

to accept about mental illness.
Most of what you here and accept is anecdotal information.
Because mental illness is so clouded in mystery and misinformation most discussions of it hurt rather than help. This is also a main reason people don't seek help with mental problems.

[slackmaster]

5. Dr. Benjamin can call for anything she wants, but she has no authority to enforce her wishes