NCIL has been working with a group of national disability rights and mental health organizations to push back against the rhetoric that people with psychiatric diagnoses are the cause of gun violence, and to fight against gun violence prevention proposals that discriminate against disabled people. With this rhetoric coming from many directions, and with the threat of new proposals and legislation remaining constant, it is more important than ever that we work together and speak out.
Decades of research has shown us what we already know: people with psychiatric diagnoses are no more likely to be violent than people without. And, people with psychiatric diagnoses are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence. It is unacceptable to deprive a group of people their rights based solely on diagnosis and unfounded fear, which is what many – including the President – are proposing to do.
We recently released a joint statement in response to remarks by the President and others that people with psychiatric diagnoses are dangerous, and that targeting this group will solve the country’s gun violence problem. Over 40 national organizations signed on to this joint statement, and we are now opening it up beyond our coalition for additional national, state, and local signatures.
Sign on: please consider signing your CIL, SILC, or other organization on to this important statement!
If this form is not accessible to you, email [email protected] with: your name; your organization’s name; whether you are a national, state, or local organization; and any comments you have.
