It is not uncommon for people that are in abusive relationships to make excuses for their abuser. Such as " He didn't really mean to ..."
One thing this administration has taught me is just how deep mental illness is in the USA.
Hopefully some day everyone will have access to mental health care.
I agree, mental illnesses are widespread nowadays and only on the rise. Guns are hardly the problem, and even if somehow all privately owned firearms were removed from the equation the problem with many suffering from mental illness would still remain a problem.