No, Paul Ryan, you don't get to make the mentally ill "own" this act of terrorism.

So, I woke up this morning, took my Lamictal and Prozac, then logged in to Facebook to see that Paul Ryan seems to think people like me are dangerous.

Apparently, we shoot people, not because irresponsible politicians make false, incendiary remarks that cause violent people to do violent things and get praised for them in the press and think they are fighting for a noble cause, but because we are so dangerous that Congress must do something.

There's no doubt our mental health system is broken. Believe me, I know. I give thanks daily that I have my medicine now. It was a long, hard road. But the only person I was dangerous to was myself.

In fact, even if all mental illness were magically cured, gun violence would only decrease by 4%. But since over 60% of gun deaths are suicide, sensible gun registration, waiting periods, and background check requirements would save more lives — people’s lives like mine. I don't think many Republicans like him care much about us, though. If he did, wouldn't he have gotten more of his fellow Republican representatives to vote for the Mental Health Parity And Addiction Equity Act of 2008?

Why is he only saying this now? It's because we always have to believe that evil is “other" — so since this terrorist is white, Christian, and Conservative he must just be “mentally ill".

But we are not “other". We are your friends, coworkers, and loved ones. We are not dangerous. And we will NOT accept the stigma gun advocates continuously place on us, when we're the ones most likely to be killed by guns, not the ones doing the shooting.