Extra

"Thus, what we have here is a homophobic act by a mentally ill person, not domestic terrorism." Those are the words of Ralph Stone in the Berkeley Daily Planet.

Mr. Stone, please do not scapegoat persons with mental illness in your column.

The perpetrator of the Orlando Shooting is not reported to have a history of mental illness. Reportedly, he passed a psychological test enabling him to own a gun. 

An act of hate, yes. An act of someone suffering from delusions, bipolar, or depression, no. Are you going to attribute a mental health diagnosis to members of the KKK? Are you going to attribute a mental health diagnosis to Osama Bin Laden? To George W. Bush?  

People are violent. A mental health diagnosis is not applicable to anyone who commits violence.  

The perpetrator of this action had a well thought out plan that he implemented without error. A person with schizophrenia, when violent, does not have a well thought out plan, and any violence is unpremeditated as well as disorganized.  

Most persons with mental illness are good people with bad diseases. Attributing mental illness to anyone who perpetrates a heinous action is disablist, and disablist prejudice is just as reprehensible as racism. Most people haven't yet woken up to this.