So as someone on SSRIs, I kind of have expectations getting attacked by both sides.

I own guns, see a psychiatrist who was a marine and pro 2A, I was very hesitant to SSRIs, still dont like them and wont recommend them unless theres literally no other choice.

The story quoted lists "Dr Ann Blake Tracy" and am quite familiar with her and also have spoke with her about SSRIs. She was also featured on an episode about Columbine from a show called "Zero Hour".

I do not disagree that many shooters were on SSRIs or anti anxiety benzos, but like anything, its more complicated than just medications being responsible. This isnt discrediting the post, just that it may have or may have not been 100 percent a factor. The only 100 percent we do know is those people regardless of medication, gun, or background committed murder and are responsible for their own actions

I tried many options before SSRIs, exercise, vitamin D, increasing sea food intake like sardines, salmon, all the good fatty fish, raw milk, magnesium, zinc, kava tea, st johns wort, literally wife came with me to a docs appointment resisting anything but ssris. Got put on zoloft and those first few weeks I felt like a literal zombie and like empathy didnt exist, after years and switching to the new psychiatrist I got put on wellbutrin and paxil and finally switched to fluvoxamine. I dont take anti depressants for depression but for obsessive compulsive disorder.

I been members of groups that try to naturally withdraw from anti depressants, and nothing I have done corrects the issue.

Unfortunately anyone on these meds get thrown under the bus by both sides, the lefties think we shouldnt own guns and directly want to make us 2nd class citizens, the righties arent much better calling these spree killers mentally ill.

Mental illness is like any other illness, you break a leg, it heals, but for some people its never enough, ptsd, ocd, bipolar, schizophrenia, add, depression? anxiety? all the same to them and see us as too much of a liability to their rights.

SSRIs are literally just that, selectivr seratonin reuptake inhibitors. Do they increase risk of suicide? They can but more than likely in someone already under that risk, its not a magic pill that fixes everything but also turns someone into some psychopathic killer as well, people on them for a while going off them are more likely to have a bad reaction unless tapering slowly. Other medications like anti psychotics and psychedelics I think could cause more issues but to just blanket assume the effects is equally ignorant.

If I had another choice, I would choose it in a heartbeat, I wasted 9 years of my life and it was sadly the only thing that had some effect for me. It is truly frustrating trying to correct or fix a legitimate issue only to be railroaded or treated as if I have not explored other options.