Lawrence Hunter, columnist at Forbes.com, wrote and article arguing that psychiatric drugs are a common denominator in high profile mass shootings like the one at Sandy Hook. He quotes 2000 New York Senate Bill 7035:
There is a large body of scientific research establishing a connection between violence and suicide and the use of psychotropic drugs in some cases. This research, which has been published in peer reviewed publications such as the American Journal of Psychiatry, The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and The Journal of Forensic Science, has shown, among other things, that: certain drugs can induce mania (a psychosis which can produce bizarre, grandiose and highly elaborated destructive plans, including mass murder);. . .and certain drugs can produce an acute psychotic reaction in an individual not previously psychotic.
Most of the nation has spent the last month discussing and debating what happened at Sandy Hook and why. As you gathered together with family for Christmas and then returned to work, I’m sure you have all had at least one, if not many conversations with people about guns.
But how many conversations have you had with people about other possible contributing factors to murderous rampages such as psychiatric drugs? None? And as most media outlets have been talking non-stop about gun control, have you heard even one single mention of the two words “psychiatric drugs”? Why not? Even if you don’t think there is causation, if we’re trying to really understand and prevent these things, shouldn’t this glaring correlation be talked about?
Forbes.com doesn’t think so. They deleted Hunter’s column shortly after it was posted and started going viral. Here’s what you’ll find if you try to access the page now: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencehunter/2013/01/14/psychiatric-drugs-not-a-lack-of-gun-control-are-the-common-denominator-in-murderous-violence/
Here’s more info on the removal: http://dailycaller.com/2013/01/16/forbes-withdraws-online-essay-blaming-psychiatric-medications-for-sandy-hook-shooting/
Again, even if it might only be a correlation (which I doubt), why not talk about? Why the absolute silence in light of the absolutely raging discussion about guns?
Here’s an old clip from 2003
Contrast 