Mental health and firearms

Regarding Paul Rohrbach’s recent letter discussing mental health and firearm issues, I offer the following.

Mr. Rohrbach laments the fact mental health awareness and treatment have all but gone away. It may

come as a surprise to Rohrbach, President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget blueprint slashes spending for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration by $665 million. In addition, Bloomberg reported the National Institute of Mental Health would see a 30 percent reduction in funding — a half-billion-dollar decrease. It appears there could be far less funding for those requiring help with mental health, a group Rohrbach believes contributes to the rise in the misuse of firearms.

In addition, Mr. Rohrbach suggests previous active military service and weapons training would have a significant impact on the abuse of firearms. I submit, as an Air Force veteran, once I graduated from boot camp I never again had a firearm in my hands due to my career field in the military. I am probably among the least-qualified and -trained individuals to own and/or use a firearm. I see no correlation between firearms training in the military and the potential abuse of firearms.

Terry A. Hontz

Spokane