NC GOP Governor-Elect: Mental Health Should be Focus of Shooting Response

Republican Pat McCrory, Governor-Elect of North Carolina, made his thoughts known about what needs to done in the aftermath of the school shooting in Newtown and a focus on mental health was a big part. From WRAL:

Gov.-elect Pat McCrory said the state should look to ensure schools are secure and improve its mental health system in response to last week’s shootings in Newtown, Conn.

“I’ve got to get my feet grounded as governor first. But I think we do need to do a whole review of our school safety to ensure that we have to the proper programs in place, to ensure that our kids are protected,” McCrory said. “The second area I’m very interested in is mental health. Right now we have broken system regarding mental health. And this type of situation could occur here because of some people with serious mental health issues. Those are two immediate areas that I can maybe have an impact on as the next governor.”

Asked about potential changes to either broaden gun rights or impose more controls, McCrory said the state has enough gun laws.

“I just want to make sure that kids are safe,” McCrory said. “The long-term solution I think is not changing any current laws — we’ve got a lot of laws on the books — but taking care of those people who have some serious, serious problems in their minds. I think that’s where a lot of the concentration needs to be. Because if you look at all these incidents throughout the nation, it’s been these loners that have some serious, serious issues. I think that’s the thing we’ve got to concentrate on.”

I think Gov.-Elect McCrory has something here. While ensuring all schools have adequate security should be paramount, it seems that the one common denominator in these events all seems to be the perpetrators all have some sort of mental health issue going on. A real focus on mental health issues could not only make treatment more readily available, but help begin removing the stigmas that can surround people with mental health issues and allow them to seek and recieve help more openly.