The recent shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary has brought with it many different discussions including gun control and the state of mental health in our country. This petition is a request for action towards rethinking how mental health is dealt with. It needs to be more accessible by means of availability and more inexpensive options for care. There has always been a stigma towards individuals who suffer from a mental illness. We must address this negative thinking and begin better education as a means for creating awareness and a path away from the views that mental illness represents a personal weakness. I propose we begin in our public libraries as they house the tools to access information. As a library staff member, I am a tool keeper. That being said, I am going to put together a program in order to educate and inform my community on various issues linked to mental health. I encourage other programming librarians to do the same as well as community members going to their local public libraries and requesting that such a program be offered.

RECOGNITION OF CIVILIAN WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN AMERICA'S CONFLICTS. To acknowledge the role of civilian woman (USO/Red Cross/USAID/special services/civilian doctors/nurses/religious/flight attendants, etc# who have served America and the military. In fact, here were over 20,000 civilian women in Vietnam alone. Only 7,500 military women served in Vietnam, by the way. Civilian women have served side by side with the military women, but get no acknowledgement for health issues like PTSD, Dioxin poisioning, depression, cancer, etc. It is appalling that these dedicated women are outcasts after having served their country with patriotism, courage and dedication. I personally served as a civilian with USO clubs in Vietnam, Thailand and USArmy Special services in Korea and Fort Ord, California. I know what being an outcast really means. I am carrying PTSD around with me, but cannot get even a glance at a VA hospital. I was told by a chaplain at the VA hospital in Palo Alto, CA that our civilian service 'doesn't count'. I find that outrageous. When we were needed to run hospitals, set up USO clubs or special service clubs, or work as nurses #civilian#, we were there to support the cause. Now that we need to be acknowledged, the door is shut in our faces. Can you help me out with this? I #we# would be grateful. Maureen Nerli, USO Clubs Vietnam, Thailand USArmy Special Services, South Korea, Fort Ord, CA Founder of the first highway sign in America to acknowledge the role or civilian women in our conficts: .CIVILIAN WOMEN VOLUNTEERS ALL WARS HIGHWAY MEMORIAL, San Mateo, California, Highway 101

Over the past 20 years our states have been closing mental health facilities at an alarming rate. We are now seeing the results of these catastrophic decisions. We must keep people like James Holmes, Jared Loughner and Adam Lanza off the streets. Yes we need tight gun control, but make no mistake if these 3 individuals would have been in institutions or had proper evaluations, we wouldn't have dead children all over the country. Please help tell our representatives that we need the money they took from mental health system put back with much more to go with it.

The media is not asking the proper questions! I want to DEMAND that an INDEPENDANT study be made of all of the shooters that have caused so much carnage in our world in the past ten years to ascertain what psych drugs these people were "on" when they were able to perform such horrendous acts towards such innocent victims.

The entire nation weeps after another senseless tragedy due to gun violence occurred. As medical providers, we are mandated to report suspected child abuse, and in many states, spousal abuse. We should be mandated to report to a National Data Bank that an individual we deem mentally unstable or at risk, should not be allowed to purchase a gun. When gun shops consult the data base, they will see the person's name on the "Disallow Purchase" list and refrain from making the sale.

Our human family is heartbroken over the Connecticut shootings. Another mentally ill person goes untreated and becomes a mentally ill mass murder, meanwhile funding for mental health programs are cut across the nation. TREATMENT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS SHOULD BE AS EASY TO GET AS GUNS.

I have worked in the mental health field and am also personally affected because I have seen family and friends try to get help at various times to no avail, or they have been in-patient for a short period and turned loose to fend for themselves because of short-staffing or no room. Something needs to be done because there are so many people in need of mental health services in New Mexico and all over the country.

The current mental health system today is failing society. Mass killings at theaters, schools and office places are becoming increasingly more often. All , mentally ill people, who family knew was ill but was unable to get any help. When I was 16, my mother, who had Bipolar disorder, stood off with Police and ultimately was shot and killed. It's time to make a difference, keep them on the needed medications, give families the help they need to prevent such HORRIBLE tragedies.

America needs proactive measures to insure mental health issues be addressed and treated in every town, city, and state in the USA. By endorsing and funding such services, think of the prevention of problems from the troubled teen, dysfunctional family, to the addiction issues, abuse issues, and crime. Perhaps the recent murders of innocent children/adults in Newtown, CT. could have been prevented if help had been readily available to those "crying" out in need.

In the wake of recent events, many people are calling out for tighter gun control. This does not solve the problem, because the problem is a failed mental health system that allows these disturbed individuals to roam free.Our leaders need to adress the cause, not the symptom.

Stop the war against Mental Health!!!

IF OFFICIALS WILL TAKE THE $200,000.00 AND PUT IT IN A FUND FOR KIDS THAT THEY THINK ARE GETTING CAVITIES FROM NOT HAVE FLUORIDE IN THE DRINKING WATER.THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE THE CHOSE NOT TO HAVE FLUORIDE (POISON) IN THEIR WATER.