Just as vaccinations are required for school children in order to protect them and others from physical disease, some form of psychological testing may be needed to determine the possibility of serious mental illness affecting the lives of persons who may be ill as well as potential victims of the illness.
In the case of schizophrenia, the onset of the illness often occurs within the ages of 17 and 25. If James Holmes had been tested with others in his high school and university peer group, his illness may have been identified and he could have received help.
Other safeguards may need to be adopted to close loopholes enabling a mentally ill person to live in the community, and this would be determined on an individual basis.
The first objections may be stigma from labelling as well as restricting individual rights and freedoms. Society will need to weigh what is gained and lost by mandatory psychological testing.
If society chooses not to further restrict the right to own guns, other measures may need to be taken such as suggested in this report, to protect society from those who exercise their right to possess firearms.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The College of Mental Health Counseling provides online certificate training for the general public and for professionals in the practical application of counseling knowledge, processes, and skills.
The course text published by the College is at http://www.amazon.com/
Program details and Registration are found at http://www.collegemhc.com
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