Tragedy unfolded in Atlanta this week when a disgruntled veteran opened fire at a hospital waiting room, killing one woman and injuring four others. The suspect, Deion Patterson, 24, was captured after an eight-hour manhunt that spanned two counties. He had a medical appointment at the Northside Medical Midtown facility and was seeking new treatment because he was dissatisfied with the care he was getting from the Department of Veterans Affairs, his mother told investigators.

This incident raises serious questions about the state of our mental health system and the security of our public spaces. How did Patterson, who served with the Coast Guard from 2018 until his discharge in January 2023, get access to a firearm? Why did he become so agitated that he decided to shoot innocent people? What could have been done to prevent this senseless violence?

The answers are not easy, but they point to a larger problem that affects many veterans and civilians alike: the lack of adequate and affordable mental health care in our country. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness each year, but only 43% of them receive treatment. For veterans, the situation is even worse: they are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse than the general population, but they face long wait times, bureaucratic hurdles, and stigma when seeking help from the VA.

Patterson’s mother said he was unhappy with the VA’s services and wanted to try something different. But what options did he have? The private sector is often too expensive or inaccessible for many people who need mental health care. The public sector is underfunded and overwhelmed by the demand. And the social sector is fragmented and inconsistent in its quality and availability.

We need to do better. We need to invest more resources and attention into improving our mental health system and making it accessible and affordable for everyone who needs it. We need to ensure that veterans receive the care and support they deserve for their service and sacrifice. We need to strengthen our background checks and gun laws to prevent dangerous people from obtaining weapons. And we need to enhance our security measures and emergency protocols in public places like hospitals, schools, and workplaces. Making all of these places gun free zones isn’t the answer.

This may be the first that you’ve heard about this incident. I know about it because I know several people who work in Atlanta. And as far as I can tell, the mainstream media isn’t even reporting on this? Why not? Well, the answer becomes painfully obvious when you look at the situation. It clearly doesn’t fit their narrative that they want to push.

ATLANTA ACTIVE SHOOTER: At Least 5 Shot, 1 Dead in shooting at Northside Hospital Medical in Midtown Atlanta today.
Manhunt underway for 24-year-old Deion Patterson, he is armed & dangerous. call 911 immediately and not approach him.
A $10,000 award.#ActiveShooter #Atlanta pic.twitter.com/ZUsPl1vn6V

— ∼Marietta (@MariettaDaviz) May 3, 2023

Amy St. Pierre, 38, was shot to death by a 24-year-old gunman today in Atlanta at a Northside Hospital Midtown medical office building. St. Pierre’s husband confirms she worked for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://t.co/YosZU1oM62 pic.twitter.com/wODbYewkg6

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) May 4, 2023

The Atlanta shooting was a tragedy that could have been avoided. It was a result of a failed system and a dangerous man. We owe it to the victims and their families to learn from this incident and take action to prevent future ones.