VACP’S response to continuing gun violence in America 

The Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists (VACP) is saddened and distressed to be confronted by so many mass shootings in our nation. Firearm violence is occurring at epidemic levels in the United States, with over 200 mass shootings documented in 2022 alone. This nation has the highest rate of gun-related injuries among developed nations, as well as the highest rate of gun ownership. These shocking episodes of death-by-shooting add to the mounting evidence that the United States is in a public health crisis.  We cannot become numb to gun violence in our communities! 

VACP is committed to efforts to protect our citizens from this sort of violence.  We applaud efforts by Congress to develop sensible legislation, such as the bipartisan gun bill signed into law in June of 2022.  We applaud Virginia’s General Assembly for their efforts to establish community-based teams that include police, mental health crisis experts and community advocates who can de-escalate situations with individuals who are at risk of using guns to cause harm.  Our children and our communities deserve these efforts, and we encourage our representatives to continue pressing for evidence-based protections. 

As Psychologists, we offer our services and expertise to help in alleviating this public health crisis.  Our profession is skilled at research, risk assessment, and clinical intervention, and we stand ready to help.  It is important to note that the overwhelming majority of people with mental illness are not violent, and the vast majority of firearm violence is not attributed to mental illness.  However, firearm violence clearly has mental health implications.  In the wake of such tragedies, communities struggle with significant post-traumatic distress, among both victims and bystanders.  These events are also triggers for those who have experienced similar violent events, and lead to mounting levels of depression and anxiety, not only in the impacted communities, but across the nation.  We encourage anyone who feels the impacts of this epidemic of gun violence to reach out to your local mental health professionals for support and healing.  

We further recognize that the rhetoric around gun violence in America is often polarizing, stigmatizing, and counterproductive to solutions.  We implore our news organizations to help shift the focus from tragedies, disasters, violence and political unrest inclusive of verbal attacks and denigration toward the opposition, to a focus of intervention, sharing of resources, networking and collaborative efforts, and the promise of a path towards building a stronger community.  We are in this together.  

~Signed and Approved by the VACP Board of Directors (7/14/22)