Sheriff Nowels supports and echoes the thoughts brought forward by the Washington State Sheriffs’ Association. It is not the gun that decides to kill; the person holding the firearm is the one who chooses to commit these horrific and violent acts. Until we as a society and a nation decide to address the actual cause of the irrational decisions by people who wish to kill people in their community, these atrocities will continue irrespective of the gun or other method used by someone who is adamant in their desire to kill.
We must address the mental health crisis we face.
In 2021:
32% of gun deaths in the U.S. are attributed to Suicide (children and Teens <18), and 60% are attributed to Homicide, according to the CDC Date and the Pew Research Center.
** We should be asking why our children are killing themselves and each other.
With adults (18+), it shows the majority of gun deaths, 55%, were attributed to Suicide and 42% to Homicide.
** We should be asking why our adults are killing themselves and each other.
Until we address the cause of these suicides and homicides, we will continue to these high numbers.
The mental health crisis in our country is a problem that needs to be immediately addressed with mental health programs and treatment that works. Banning types of firearms will do nothing to change these numbers, and the argument only distracts from the discussion that truly needs to happen.
We must address the issue of what is causing our youth and adults to make the terrible and shocking choice to kill themselves and others in our communities.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/04/06/gun-deaths-among-us-kids-rose-50-percent-in-two-years/
Washington State Sheriffs' Association Letter-Confronting Mass Murder & the Rush to Ban Some Firearms