Mental Health Part of New Gun Law
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: January 15, 2013
Governor Cuomo has vowed to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill and now there's a lot of concern coming from the Center for Disability Rights.
"Our biggest concern is that it stigmatizes people with psychiatric disabilities and that's not necessary and it's just plain wrong because they are no more likely to commit violent crimes than anyone else," said Bruce Darling, CEO of the Center for Disability Rights.
Bruce Darling believes the connection gives a stereotype about the mentally ill.
"Sometimes people hear about horrible acts of violence and they can't understand it, so just because it's unthinkable doesn't mean it's a psychiatric disability," said Darling.
Under Cuomo's plan, if a mental health professional believes a person poses a threat, he/she is required to provide that information to law enforcement. Advocates at the CDR believe this will stop people from seeking treatment.
"If I have a gun or maybe I don't have a gun, but I'm having homicidal thoughts or suicidal thoughts, knowing that my mental health provider is going to report me to the local authorities means I'm not going to be as likely to say this to someone," said Darling.
And if they do end up going to a professional, Darling says they may be reluctant to tell the truth.
"There's always been this assumption of I can talk to my therapist, my psychiatrist, my mental health provider and have that be confidential and that's between us and this now shifts that to something different where I'm being reported to the authorities," said Darling.
While the CDR is not opposed to new gun control measures, they worry about this aspect and the potential profiling of the mentally ill.
"Our biggest concern is that it stigmatizes people with psychiatric disabilities and that's not necessary and it's just plain wrong because they are no more likely to commit violent crimes than anyone else," said Bruce Darling, CEO of the Center for Disability Rights.
Bruce Darling believes the connection gives a stereotype about the mentally ill.
"Sometimes people hear about horrible acts of violence and they can't understand it, so just because it's unthinkable doesn't mean it's a psychiatric disability," said Darling.
Under Cuomo's plan, if a mental health professional believes a person poses a threat, he/she is required to provide that information to law enforcement. Advocates at the CDR believe this will stop people from seeking treatment.
"If I have a gun or maybe I don't have a gun, but I'm having homicidal thoughts or suicidal thoughts, knowing that my mental health provider is going to report me to the local authorities means I'm not going to be as likely to say this to someone," said Darling.
And if they do end up going to a professional, Darling says they may be reluctant to tell the truth.
"There's always been this assumption of I can talk to my therapist, my psychiatrist, my mental health provider and have that be confidential and that's between us and this now shifts that to something different where I'm being reported to the authorities," said Darling.
While the CDR is not opposed to new gun control measures, they worry about this aspect and the potential profiling of the mentally ill.
