Yes, an actual psych eval. The 4473, while covering some aspects, is simply a self-identification form. People can easily lie and fly under the radar. Where is the audit of this open loop system?
I never mentioned expanding Medicaid, only the hypocrisy of those who say "guns arent the problem, let's focus on the real issue...mental health" and then like cattle line up at the polls to vote and seemingly worship shitty politicians that vote to defund systems designed to aide and assist those in need. Does it bother you to help those in need in our own country vs. funnelling $4bn a year to Israel, $40bn to Ukraine, billions to companies that don't create jobs in America with liveable wages, etc...? To me, the answer is easy, if the scapegoat for gun violence is mental health (or the new scapegoat...morality), then don't strangle systems that are already in place. Pay teachers more, place emphasis on education. Reform police image and mindset (e.g. community policing - folks have more respect for people they know). Stop voting trash in that chokes a system and then places blame on the beneficiary of that system.
"Never in my 68 years....have I seen such a prevalence of Broken Homes, Dysfunctional Families, Disrespect of fellow man, self importance is the new religion. And the ever increasing idea that pretty much "Everything is OK, its just different". I'm glad I grew up in the time period I did. And though I raised a Daughter through these more modern times....we were careful to raise her right."
The internet and social media changed the world, for better or worse. Of course nobody in your generation or prior has seen anything like it, or it's impacts. The impacts of what we consume has also not been fully grasped. Who knows what microplastics or engineered foods do to our mind and bodies. Times change and every generation shakes their fist at the next for being so different. Regarding "everything is ok, just different", I don't always agree with everything I see, hear, or read, but it is easy to change perspective. Does this thing have any impact on you? If not, move on. I agree that my generation and the ones after mine have trouble distinguishing disagreement with discrimination - although many generations before mine have also gotten sucked into this culture of instant gratification and getting offended and pulling the andon every chance they get too (mask mandates being a prime example). I'm raising a son myself, also going to raise him carefully, but make sure he doesn't have his blinders on when it comes time to leave the house.
Those misfits and oddballs have always been there, generation after generation. Focusing in on "loners" isn't the only solution to this problem. Making sure people who have the motive having a hard time acquiring the means is equally, if not more important.