Unaddressed mental health — and more

The Comment section of the August 8, 2019 News concerning the tragedy of the recent mass shootings reflects the deep and disturbing polarization of differences in our country. Politicians, not wishing to miss the opportunity to take advantage of a crisis, eagerly blame the other party members as being the cause for the crisis. In a case of oversimplification, it’s the gun that is the problem and not the shooter. In stark contrast, Barbara Adolfi’s comments make a lot of sense.

We are facing a critical mental health crisis in this country which we as citizens, apparently, wish to avoid discussing or pressing our politicians for adequate solutions. It is not surprising to see why we have a mental health problem when our children are raised playing violent computer games and seeing horribly violent Hollywood movies. As a child growing up in Germany after the Second World War it was possible to see how Nazi-saluting Germans turned into non-violent and peace-loving members of the world community. That example should form a lesson for us.

We have plenty of laws to protect us from all kinds of violence, but the question remains as to how the laws are enforced by our court systems. The members of our sheriff ’s department are pledged to follow these laws and to risk their lives to protect us. Often our law enforcement officers are disrespected by the citizens and then they see our courts let violent criminals caught by them released back into our community with light sentences.

While our politicians speak of the morality of protecting human life, we are left with a question that has bothered me for a long time. Why is it morally acceptable for over one million American mothers

each year to have their unborn killed, even to the point of the child’s actual birth? Yes, I believe that we have serious unaddressed mental health issues in our country. The question remains: What are we going to do about it? Robert Russell

Sperryville