In Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick has created a bill that, if it becomes law, would help strengthen mental health services in the state. It is part of the gun control legislation he recently filed. The Governor feels treating mental health is critical to reducing gun violence.
The gun control bill that Governor Deval Patrick has several different parts to it. It is the first I have heard of that will, if passed into law, require gun owners to purchase gun liability insurance. for their firearms. It also has some portions that are intended to strengthen access to mental health treatment.
Governor Patrick has said the the mental health issue is a critical to a comprehensive effort to prevent gun violence. He said:
Mental illness is a disease that can be treated, and our communities are safe when the appropriate services and supports are available for people in need.
I am encouraged by the palpable consensus in our Legislature that the time for action is now.
The bill includes $5 million for the Department of Mental Health programs. This would include funding to train teachers to recognize symptoms of mental illness in students.
A total of $2 million dollars from that amount would be for mobile crisis teams. These teams would travel to locations where an individual was in crisis and would be able to provide specialized mental health service. The purpose would be to prevent potential harm or violence and also to connect the person with the mental health treatment that he or she needs.
The bill also calls for $900,000 that would be used to train law enforcement and other first responders. Another $500,000 would be for the state’s Child Psychiatric Access Program to help with the early diagnosis of, and treatment of, mental illness.
There is another part of the bill that parents of children who have mental health issues should know about. The bill would require all courts (in Massachusetts) to send “all relevant mental health records” to the Massachusetts criminal justice information system. The purpose would be for the federal government to include the information in a national gun license registry.
It appears that this is not the only gun control bill in Massachusetts that has been filed. None have been voted on yet. There are opponents who have voiced their opinions against at least some of the newly proposed Massachusetts gun control bills. We will have to wait and see what bills get voted on and what the outcome of the vote turns out to be.
Image by David L on Flickr