James Bingham: Mental health, not guns, key to thwarting suicides

Regarding Allison Balmes’ Dec. 2 Point of View “Waiting to purchase guns would lower suicide rate”: The author correctly stated that in North Carolina the purchase of a handgun requires a purchase permit which is issued by the sheriff from the county in which the permit seeker resides.

Permit fees and wait times vary by county with processing times generally ranging between five and 30 days. Permit fees vary by county as well.

North Carolina residents who have a concealed carry permit may also purchase handguns without applying for individual handgun permits; however, these residents have undergone an exhaustive background check which typically takes between 45 and 90 days depending on their county of residence. So, wait times are already legislated in North Carolina to purchase handguns.

Attention should instead be focused on the real suicide problem – mental health. Every suicide is tragic and leaves hurting loved ones behind. If we paid more attention to the mental condition of those around us and intervened appropriately, we would see a sharp reduction in those seeking to end their own life.

The answer isn’t more needless handgun legislation. The answer is more love and concern for those around us.

This story was originally published December 8, 2016 at 10:56 AM with the headline "James Bingham: Mental health, not guns, key to thwarting suicides."