Transcript of the podcast

Welcome to the Mind Wise podcasts about mental health and well-being of the body, mind, and spirit, from an integrative and holistic perspective. I am Ron Parks, MPH, MD, writer, teacher, consultant, and your host, today I am talking about The Gun Narrative and Gaslighting.

Let’s get clarity on the discordant debate on mass shootings, the issues, and sensible choices.

In the recent gun violence and murder of vulnerable and innocent children, anger and questioning come after the shock and grief. Were we misled, gaslighted? Who is the blame? Why again, who is responsible or who was irresponsible. Why is our country the world's leader in possession of deadly firearms with little regulation or safety requirements? Another mass shooting has occurred, this time of nineteen innocent and vulnerable elementary school children and two adults killed by an 18-year-old with a military-like assault gun. How do the murderers and perpetrators of gun violence slip through all detection and become so twisted and radicalized to carry out their horrendous actions as in recent mass shootings? So many unanswered questions.

The dark shadow of gun violence darkens the spirit. It hangs heavily over our society more than ever, growing each year, especially since the pandemic. The heart-wrenching toll of gun violence appears daily in the news, on social media, and in the personal accounts of families about the losses of their loved ones. Unfortunately, I return to the subject in this article that I have written about before, compelled by the continuing tragedy of the climbing death rate from gun violence, mass shootings, and the related mental health burden on our society and victims

Gaslighting is an expression for using deceitful or false narratives to deceive, gain psychological control, or manipulate another person or group for the perpetrator's benefit. Individuals or groups can deliberately and systematically influence and mislead others with false or deceptive information to control and influence. This deliberate and adverse behavior toward susceptible others occurs in personal and professional relationships, marketing schemes, and political movements. The goal is usually to gain power and advantage for selfish motives.

The term gained popularity after a popular 1944 movie, Gaslight. The word denotes the attempt to gain control or power over others with vulnerability to manipulation. The malintent individual that succeeds with their efforts often has greater power or advantage. A mild form would be a sales pitch to persuade buyers to purchase perhaps an unneeded product for the seller's profit. At its more extreme, there is a fear of significant danger or losses if the false presentation of the other is ignored or challenged.

Abusive, sinister, or catastrophic events occur when a personality-disordered individual with extreme narcissism or psychopathy adapts gaslighting as a tool for self-gain, power, and dominance. A more dangerous form of gaslighting is seen in propagandizing groups of people for political gain and power at the expense of the victims or those duped. When this is allowed or occurs, there are always potentially severe consequences such as losses of security, property, personal freedom, or life itself.

Gaslighting has become more insidious and dangerous with the advances in modern communications, social media, advertising, and propaganda tactics. With wealth more concentrated in the hands of fewer individuals, big businesses, and corporations, the voters will get manipulated to support the gaslighter or influencer's profit and growth motives. There is the risk of the extreme wealth abusing power by sponsoring politicians that dominate and subvert our democracy and political process. 1

In our psychological process and defenses, we sometimes deny or compartmentalize specific painful ideas or emotions, with an altered narrative removed from the actual reality. Such a psychological mechanism might be to function or survive certain threatening situations or inconvenient realities. In the extremes, the mind can reach a state of unreality, delusions, or psychosis. So, in a sense, we are quite capable of "gaslighting" or deceiving ourselves. Perhaps this can be more dangerous than external deception or gaslighting, as we can get further from the truth and reality and become highly vulnerable or dangerous to others. Psychologist Alf Lokkertsen writes further about the meaning behind "what is gaslighting, why we victim blame and how to spot a liar." 2

As demonstrated both by history and current events, money and religion in politics can undermine our democracy and personal freedoms. Corporations' political involvement can act against public interests, such as undermining efforts to combat climate change by seeking less regulation for more growth and profits for their industries. Undermining efforts to get needed laws and regulations on guns, especially assault-like firearms, or limiting access to those posing more risk creates the present and persisting danger to the public and horrific and frequent mass shootings.

The number of gun-related deaths this year in the U.S. has soared, post-Covid and record sales of guns and assault-like guns, with the firearms industry having increasing profits. Politicians who receive support from the gun industry have often blocked sensible gun regulations.

The opioid pharmaceutical companies were unregulated in their deceptive marketing and distribution of high-risk, highly addictive, and deadly products. Their deceptive marketing, success in sales, and the population's use of narcotics resulted in an epidemic of addiction-related deaths. It dramatically worsened when a synthetic product, fentanyl, took over the supply of opioids in illicit channels. Even with the increased regulation and accountability of the leading manufacturers and distributors, legally and financially, a high opioid death rate persists as so many illegal drugs are still available on the street. Another evolving issue that gets gaslighted and downplayed is the profound and devastating impact of climate change and global warming, which appears to rapidly progress with the loss of lives and property with the potential for worsening destruction. Recent news is reporting the expectation this year of a horrendous hurricane season and ongoing problems with draughts, fires, and violent storms with tornadoes.

There has been reporting as information becomes available on the most recent mass shooting in the New York Times by writer German Lopez in the last few days. In his May 26 New York Times article, he writes that more guns in the U.S. mean more deaths unique to this country as he explores recent occurrences and statistics. He acknowledges that though people hold extreme racist views or suffer from mental health problems in other countries, it is easier here in the U.S. for those people to pick up guns and kill. Studies support the fact that there are more homicides, suicides, and mass shootings when and where there are more guns. It has also been shown that stricter gun laws help reduce gun deaths when enforced in other countries.

Some proposed and sensible solutions to reduce mass shootings of the innocent and vulnerable are: to have more thorough background checks and licenses of firearms; red flag law to allow law enforcement to confiscate guns from high-risk individuals who display signs of potential violence; assault weapons ban to restrict or prohibit access to military-type assault rifles or high magazine cartridge packs. However, most gun deaths are from suicide and a smaller number from homicides related to violence on the street or home from handguns. But it is still felt that the number of deaths from guns would decrease with a reasonable level of regulation and gun laws.

An article, How to Reduce Shootings, by Nicolas Kristof, updated May 24, 2022, in the New York Times, points out that the U.S has more guns than any other country, with more than 300 million guns, about one for every citizen and gun murder rate higher than most other countries. He argues that guns should be at least as regulated as automobiles. Kristof, as others have felt that to gain some bipartisan support for change, might fare better with a public health approach as having:

1. Background checks;

2. Protection orders for men subject to domestic violence to not have guns;

3. Ban people under 21 from purchasing firearms;

4. Safe storage when children are in the house, as well as trigger locks on guns and ammunition, stored separately;

5. Enforcement of laws on straw purchases of weapons and some limits on how many guns can be purchased in a month;

6. Consideration of a one-time background check for anybody buying ammunition;

7. End immunity for firearm companies;

8. A ban on bump stocks that mimic automatic weapon fire.

A current example of gaslighting around congressional action on new laws for gun sales, regulations, and red flag laws has come from politicians receiving campaign financing from the gun industry that profits from less regulation. There is an attempt to refocus the narrative away from law and the need for more regulation by focusing on or blaming other factors, rather than guns, such as the slow response by police agencies or the back door of school being unlocked, etc. The other issues that have come up, such as the most recent mass shooting, certainly need attention and solutions. Still, the issue of guns themselves needs to be the prominent focus, as suggested by statistics and research.

Issues and Factors Behind Increasing Gun Deaths

With the growing inci...