Newswise — WASHINGTON – The American Psychological Association expressed strong support for key components of President Obama’s plan to protect American children and communities by reducing gun violence.
APA singled out the president’s proposals to:
- Expand background checks for gun sales;- Increase the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and FBI budgets to hire more agents and enforce existing gun laws;- Encourage states to report complete criminal history records, information on people disqualified because of a mental illness and qualifying crimes of domestic violence; and- Support efforts by state attorneys general to renew domestic violence outreach.
“These executive actions leverage and strengthen existing law, and focus on preventing violence among those who have shown a propensity to disregard the law and commit violent acts,” said APA President Susan H. McDaniel, PhD.
Additionally, APA commended the White House’s recognition that Americans with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Empirical research has shown that people with mental illness account for a very small percentage of violent crimes, including those involving guns. However, suicide is a problem of extraordinary magnitude and many suicides are committed with guns. Many individuals with mental health problems do not receive the care they need due to stigma and the unavailability of care. The administration’s proposed investment in the behavioral health workforce will increase the availability of mental health care to all, McDaniel said.
“APA continues to advocate on behalf of our members for a comprehensive, public health approach to violence prevention that is grounded in scientific research,” she added. “This approach includes a robust research agenda, prevention efforts aimed at reducing risk factors such as exposure to trauma, training in crisis intervention for law enforcement and other professionals, and careful application of the law to those who have demonstrated the capacity for violence.”________________________________________The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.________________________________________www.apa.org
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