Opinion: The Minneapolis Church Shooter Robert/Robin Westman & why mentally ill with Gender Dysphoria should not have guns

Transgender identity, is gender dysphoria, a mental health condition

The tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where two children were killed and 17 others injured, has once again thrust the issue of gun violence into the national spotlight. The shooter, identified as Robin Westman, a 23-year-old who reportedly identified as transgender (born male, Robert Westman), has reignited debates about mental health, gender identity, and gun control.

While the motives behind this horrific act remain under investigation, the incident raises critical questions about who should be allowed to purchase firearms and whether conditions like gender dysphoria, often associated with transgender identity, should be considered a mental health barrier to gun ownership.

To be clear, the loss of innocent lives, particularly children, in a place of worship is an unspeakable tragedy. My heart aches for the families and the community devastated by this act of violence. But as we grapple with how to prevent such atrocities, we must confront uncomfortable truths about mental health and its role in gun violence. I believe that transgender identity, rooted in gender dysphoria, is a mental health condition that warrants scrutiny when it comes to purchasing firearms.

Gender dysphoria, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association, involves a "marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender" that causes significant distress or impairment. This distress can manifest in severe anxiety, depression, or other psychological challenges, which, in extreme cases, may contribute to erratic or dangerous behavior.

The Minneapolis shooter’s reported manifesto and disturbing online videos, including references to mass shooters and violent imagery, suggest a deeply troubled individual. While not every transgender person is a danger, the psychological turmoil associated with gender dysphoria can, in some cases, amplify risks—especially when paired with access to lethal weapons.

Current federal gun laws prohibit individuals with certain mental health conditions from purchasing firearms, such as those who have been involuntarily committed or adjudicated as a "mental defective." However, these restrictions are narrow and often fail to account for conditions like gender dysphoria, which may not always result in institutionalization but can still involve significant psychological distress. In Minnesota, where the shooting occurred, background checks are required for handgun purchases and certain rifles, but these checks do not explicitly screen for gender dysphoria or related mental health issues. This gap in the system allowed Westman to legally purchase a rifle, shotgun, and pistol.

The Minneapolis shooting also highlights the broader issue of mental health screening in gun laws. The shooter’s lack of a significant criminal history allowed them to pass background checks, despite posting alarming content online, including a manifesto with violent rhetoric. This suggests that our current system is ill-equipped to identify red flags beyond criminal records. Expanding background checks to include mental health evaluations, particularly for conditions associated with severe distress, could help prevent individuals in crisis from obtaining weapons. For example, a temporary restriction on gun purchases for those diagnosed with gender dysphoria, pending a psychological evaluation, could strike a balance between safety and fairness.