To the editor:

As a psychotherapist with 35 years of clinical practice under my belt, I’m compelled to write about the often touted Republican solution of increasing mental health care to solve the gun slaughter on our streets, thereby protecting the right to bear arms.

First, let me say, I am a great advocate of mental health care and have witnessed how psychotherapy can change lives. However, this success requires extreme tenacity on the part of the patient: a willingness to look at one’s personal demons and take responsibility for trying to heal deep psychic wounds without acting out pain through violence toward others.   It’s hard work for even the strongest, mentally intact person. Even if generous mental health care were available (and I don’t see any Republican efforts to fund this silver bullet of theirs), the isolated, non-empathic, usually sociopathic individuals who are mowing down innocents in our schools, churches, shopping malls and streets would not be lining up to get psychotherapy.  These types of individuals rarely seek clinical help, and have a very dim prognosis even if therapy is engaged. If therapy is ordered, and not voluntary, the prognosis is even worse.

Yes, access to mental health care should be greatly expanded for all Americans.  Yes, we should use every means possible to reach out to isolated persons at risk of hurting others. And perhaps this might slightly decrease gun violence.

But a silver bullet to solve this epidemic? Not on your life. The mental health community (always and justifiably hopeful for more funding) needs to join in the gun violence conversation and honestly clarify the limits of what’s possible. The means by which isolated sociopaths can inflict mass murder need to be eliminated.

To that end, let’s be absolutely true to the Second Amendment: If individuals must have guns, then give them what the Founding Fathers were referencing — muskets. Not in their wildest imaginations would these thoughtful gentlemen have foreseen the lethality of 21st century killing machines, which are currently at risk of destroying the very fiber of our right to life, liberty and happiness.

JANICE HARRIS

Bainbridge Island