Are You A Mental Defective?
June 19, 2007 by Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”
- Krishnamurti
Back story: I’m currently working on a project that requires me to extensively research the various government websites for each state in America.
Present: Yesterday, as I was browsing the Kentucky State Police (KSP) website, I found myself on the page that deals with Kentucky’s laws on carrying a concealed deadly weapon.
The following sentence rubbed me the wrong way:
The applicant for a carry concealed deadly weapon (CCDW) license must not have been adjudicated as a mental defective or have committed to a mental institution.
I can understand this way of thinking. Kentucky (and apparently many others) aren’t comfortable with people who have mental health issues carrying concealed deadly weapons. Fine. I know there are mentally ill people out there that shouldn’t have access to weapons. So, I agree with these laws – to a point.
But to call a personal with a mental health condition “a mental defective,” to me, is more than just a tad impudent.
Would you call a little person “a height defective”? Would you call an albino “a color defective”?
My guess is no. Sure, you might say, “His bones’ ability to properly form is defective,” or, “Her body’s ability to produce melanin pigment is defective,” but to flat out call a person “a defective” can’t be socially acceptable.
The more I think about this, the angrier I get.
As far as I know, this is a universal term used for gazillions of years and people are declared “mental defectives” all the time.
So, for now I don’t even know where or to whom I can voice my opinion. Would it even be worth it? Am I reading to much in to this term?
Any thoughts?
No one should be called “defective”. Unfortunately, having a mental health condition is still one of the few stigmas that it is “OK” to poke fun of or discriminate against. (No, I don’t really believe this but know too many people who do.)
Until society accepts depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses as having the same biological basis as other physical illnesses, there is little hope this stigma will change.
Ouch, being defective is basically not working properly.
So, if I am an 18 year old kid and hit some serious depression because I kick the habit of smoking, drinking, and lost my girlfriend to another guy at the same time Mommy was put in hospital because Daddy hit her too hard and I get placed in a mental home because I want to die? This means I can’t carry a weapon in Kentucky when I’m 35, married, successful, member of the NRA?
hmmm
Leigh: One ray of sunshine in this stormy situation: According to Mental Health America, the number of folks in this country who see mental health illnesses as actual illnesses has increased in the last 10 years. We’re still behind other illnesses/diseases, but it’s a start.
You can see a graph HERE.
Bowrag: Apparently so. And I believe this is in all states now; I just happened to run across the KY law on it. If I’m not mistaken, this law is – or will soon become – nationwide.
I’ve been looking for a place that has a collective answer on all of this (and not just what I found with KY or on the VT gunman Cho), but have yet to run across one.
So, like most things dealing with this country, our government is either at one extreme of the “pole,” so to speak, or the other. We can’t ever seem to find a nice middle ground where everyone is kept safe and somewhat free.
P.S. I received your email and am writing back today.
Webster.com has this to say about Defective:
b : falling below the norm in structure or in mental or physical function
Sadly that could pertain to lots of things and not just mentally ill people.
I have asthma so I’m cardiovascularly defective I guess. I have glass so I have defective eyesight.
Man but defective sounds to much like, rejected doesn’t it? I wonder mayhap if that is where the stigma comes in?
Pal…puttin’ in her two cents worth
Ha, I guess I’m a vision defective, too.
I think ol’ Webster should redefine “defective,” because yes, it sounds like rejection. Definition aside, the term itself sounds broken. And we’re not broken!
Am I legally a mental defective in the state of WA if I have form of bipolar disorder?
Marcus:
I’m going to go out on a limb and say yes – though, if I were you I’d contact someone well-versed in Washington state law.
Below is a question from the State of Washington
Concealed Pistol License Application:
Have you ever been confined in a mental health facility for more than fourteen days for treatment, or committed as criminally insane?
Just thought you’d be interested in that, too.