Ever since the tragic Florida school shooting, the debate on guns and what to do with them has been everywhere. People are calling for changes to be made such as arming teachers, limiting guns and making it more difficult to get them. People are taking sides on the issue and breaking into fights all over social media, so I felt that it was only appropriate that I bring something to the attention of everyone concerned with the issue. Mass shootings are not only a gun issue, they're a mental health issue.

Allow me to explain:

As most people know by now, the Florida High School shooting resulted in the deaths of 17 students and faculty members, not including the several others who were injured. Everyone is discussing the AR-15 rifle used in the shooting, the several other guns he possessed, and his ability to have access to these guns. These are obviously fueling the fire of the gun control debate, but few are emphasizing the mental state of Nikolas Cruz. A New York Times Article quotes Cruz's Chief Assistant Public Defender as follows: "Mr. Cruz has a “significant” history of mental illness, according to Mr. Weekes, and is possibly autistic or has a learning disability." Now, is this an excuse for murdering innocent people? Absolutely not.

The Las Vegas Shooting that killed 58 people in October 2017 produced similar discussions surrounding gun control. Stephen Paddock fired at concert-goers out of a hotel window before killing himself. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said Paddock had reportedly been losing "a significant amount of wealth" since September 2015, which led to him having "bouts of depression." He was also taking anti-anxiety medications which had a heightened effect because of his alcoholism.

The Pulse Night Club Shooting that occurred in June 2016 resulted in the death of 49 individuals. Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to terrorist organizations prior to the shooting and was killed by police officers. According to The Washington Post, Mateen's ex-wife said that during their marriage he was mentally unstable, and would beat her and keep her completely separated from her family.

The Sutherland Springs Church Shooting of 2012 killed 26 innocent people in their place of worship. Devin Patrick Kelley committed suicide after being shot twice by a citizen. His ex-girlfriend stated that he was "sick in the head" and would tell her "very sick, strange things," according to NBC News.

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting of December 2012 ended the lives of 20 children and six adults. Adam Lanza killed his mother before heading to the school. A report issued in November 2014 stated that he suffered from Asperger's, depression, anxiety and OCD.

The San Ysidro McDonald's Massacre occurred in July 1984 (I know this was a while ago but it's especially important). It was a mass shooting that killed 21 people and injured 19 others. Information from several sources states that the shooter, James Huberty, told his wife that he thought he might have a mental problem. He called a mental hospital to make an appointment and was told that they would call him back in a few hours. He waited by the phone and never received a call. Three days later he committed the mass shooting and was fatally shot by a SWAT sniper.

If you haven't noticed, there is a trend that goes well beyond any gun control topic. Our society does not support and aid those with mental illnesses in the ways that we are supposed to. Every single one of these shooters had a mental illness that was not being treated as it should have been, and we continue to pretend that mental illness is something that is rare when most people have one.

Perhaps, it would be more effective to develop new ways and strategies to recognize signs of mental illnesses and provide care to those who need it. I realize that guns play a role in these cases as well, but a compromise on gun control is not in sight at the moment.

Advancing the treatment of mental illness is something that is attainable. It would also help to eliminate the stigma that mental illness is something to be feared. Those who have one just need some help. Why don't we do that instead of fighting our friends over gun control?