Regarding gun safety and mental illness, one consequence of strict firearm regulations is often overlooked: the “chilling effect” these laws can have on individuals seeking mental health treatment.
Laws that restrict firearm ownership based on mental health may initially appear proactive. However, research from Duke University and investigations by The Trace and NPR have shown that these policies can backfire, creating fear among those who might otherwise seek care. When the consequence of seeking help is the potential loss of bodily autonomy (federal and state constitutional rights), many choose silence over support.
This fear isn’t unfounded. According to Harvard Health Policy Review and RAND studies, individuals who receive mental health diagnoses, even for temporary or nonviolent conditions, risk being reported into systems that can permanently flag them. Dr. Amy Barnhorst of UC Davis, a leading psychiatrist, has spoken extensively about how this undermines the goal of prevention.
Even more troubling is the stigma these laws reinforce. By tethering firearm restrictions to mental health diagnoses, they implicitly label all mental illness as dangerous and irresponsible. This not only discourages people from getting help but also perpetuates harmful myths. As Psychology Today aptly puts it, gun laws can become a “double-edged sword” intended to protect yet inadvertently isolating those who need support.
We must protect our communities from gun violence, but not at the cost of driving people away from critical mental health care. It’s time we craft laws that balance safety with compassion, and uplift rights with evidence, not fear.
Max Micallef
Schenectady
Micallef is a former Sag Harbor resident — Ed.
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