Mental Illness in America

He reports the Democratic view that allows "more federal involvement in community mental-health centers, creating nationwide standards for access and treatment" (Johnson 7). This proves that the issues of mental health are very much a political issue as much as they are a social issue. These sources answer the question "what should be done?" in solving this problem. The reform for mental illness treatment starts at the source, the hospitals, institutions, and rehabilitation centers, but continues into the political world as laws and policies need to be put in place for change to happen. .
             The debate over gun control and the use of the insanity plea in a court of law reveals the issues of mental health in the U.S., therefore making progress to breaking through the stigma. Johnson analyzes political issues in the funding and treatment of mental illness as a "sideshow to the gun control debate" (Johnson 7). He compares the views of both the Republicans and Democrats of the current administration under President Barack Obama. He reports the details about mental health funding and how it has suffered several budgets cuts since 2000. Johnson states that Republicans are pushing for mental health reform as a means of gun violence control rather than restricting responsible gun owners. In Johnson's article he quotes North Carolina Representative Virginia Foxx saying "New laws will do us no good if they burden responsible gun owners and small businesses but fail to stop sick people before they turn to evil" (Johnson 7). However, It is a common misconception that gun violence is primarily linked to mental illness. Fisher and Lieberman offer their opinions on the popular topic of the relationship between gun violence and mental illness. They state their concern about the way the public views the mentally ill "as more dangerous or more greater part of the problem of gun-related violence than they actually are" and " the links between mental disorder and violence should not be misrepresented for political ends" (Fisher and Lieberman 423).