Another NC mass shooting is a reminder of failures on mental health and guns | Opinion
North Carolina was once again struck by gun violence Saturday night when a gunman opened fire on a waterfront bar in Southport, killing three people and wounding five others.
It was the 321st mass shooting in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. And it happened here, in a coastal town so quaint and picturesque it’s been the backdrop of several films. A place where people are meant to feel safe and enjoy themselves. Many of the victims were tourists, law enforcement said.
It’s another reminder that as long as we live in a country plagued by gun violence, we’re not truly safe anywhere — not at school, not at church, not on vacation.
But in true American fashion, it didn’t take long for the Southport shooting to become overshadowed by yet another tragedy. The very next day, at least four people were killed and eight others were wounded in a shooting at a church in Michigan. That shooting was enough to draw the attention of President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, who all condemned the incident.
The suspect in the Southport shooting is a 40-year-old combat veteran that officials say suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Officials also said it was a “targeted” and “highly premeditated attack” and the gunman used an assault rifle. In Michigan, the shooter was also a veteran with an assault rifle.
Of course, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the suspects and their alleged motives. But it does raise questions about whether America is doing enough to look after its veterans, who often return from combat with wounds we can’t see until it’s too late.
Veterans often have difficulties accessing federally provided mental health services, thanks to staffing shortages and long wait times. A ProPublica analysis from 2024 found repeated failures in behavioral care for veterans, often with fatal consequences. Funding cuts and workforce reductions undertaken by the Trump administration have only made that worse. Just last week, hundreds of current and former Veterans Affairs providers signed a letter raising “urgent concerns” about staffing cuts and policy changes that could negatively affect veterans.
That’s unacceptable, especially when you look at the numbers. Roughly 17 veterans die by suicide every day, and they face higher rates of PTSD, depression and substance use disorder than the general population. While most veterans never commit violent crimes, they are generally more likely to engage in criminal activity, especially if there are other risk factors like traumatic brain injuries or PTSD.
But, as with every mass shooting, it’s also a gun problem. As much as mental health and ideology can be contributing factors, it’s access to guns that allows it to turn so deadly. Failing to properly regulate firearms, especially weapons of war, puts us all in danger. More than five North Carolinians die from gun violence every day, and our rate of gun deaths is worse than the national average.
Yet we live in a state where legislators have refused to implement gun safety measures, including red-flag laws that would allow a judge to order the temporary removal of a weapon when someone is in crisis. They’ve already repealed a law that required a permit process for pistol purchases and allowed sheriffs to deny permits to those who might be a danger to themselves or others. Now, they want to allow anyone above the age of 18 to carry a concealed, loaded weapon without a permit or background check.
Doing nothing about gun violence is a choice. Calling it a mental health problem and then failing to adequately invest in mental health care is a choice as well. And it’s never too soon to start talking about how to change that, especially when, as this weekend shows, the next tragedy can occur the very next day.
North Carolinians, and all Americans, deserve to feel safe no matter where they are. Instead, seaside vacations become a nightmare, and Sunday worship turns deadly. When will our politicians finally do something to stop it?
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
