Guest post from AbleChild. Republished with permission at JoeHoft.com
In a decisive move to advance public safety and accountability, Tennessee has enacted HB 1349/SB 1146, a landmark law mandating toxicology testing for psychotropic drugs in deceased mass shooters.
This legislation, championed by AbleChild a national nonprofit advocating for informed consent in mental health and co-drafted with Amy Miller, former director of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Reform Pharma initiative, positions Tennessee at the forefront of a national reckoning at the intersection of mental health, pharmaceutical practices, and mass violence.
Key Highlights:
- Mandatory toxicology testing for psychotropic drugs in autopsies of deceased mass shooters who kill four or more individuals.
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center to study interactions between psychotropic drugs and other substances in perpetrators’ systems.
- Bipartisan support: Passed 76-20 in the House and 27-5 in the Senate, reflecting broad legislative consensus.
This law directly challenges the longstanding secrecy surrounding the role of behavioral health treatments and pharmaceutical products in acts of mass violence.
By prioritizing transparency, Tennessee’s legislation seeks to ensure that the policymakers and researchers have access to critical information that could inform lawmakers regarding legislation to protect the public.
“This law isn’t just about Tennessee. It’s a blueprint for dismantling the wall of secrecy protecting industries that profit from ignorance,” said Sheila Matthews, AbleChild co-founder.
“When someone commits mass murder,” Matthews continued, “the public has a right to know if mind-altering drugs played a role.”
This important legislation could not have been possible without the grassroot efforts of the American people and the few on the front lines with AbleChild and Amy Miller in Tennessee for two legislative sessions to get this over the wall.
The AbleChild bill is about demanding rigorous oversight and accountability in the use of powerful psychiatric drugs-especially when public safety is at stake.
This also prevents the mental health industry from stigmatizing their own clients during police investigations, blaming the diagnosis instead of the powerful mind-altering drugs prescribed…often cocktails of drugs.
Tennessee affirms that the right to safety and truth in the wake of mass violence outweighs the privacy interests of perpetrators.
National Implications
AbleChild’s campaign for this legislation is part of a broader movement to examine HIPAA exceptions for mass violence perpetrators, expose potential conflicts of interest between mental health organizations and pharmaceutical funding, and combat unsafe prescribing practices-particularly among vulnerable populations like children in foster care.
Senator Rusty Crowe and Representative Mary Littleton should be acknowledged for their courage and leadership in spearheading the passage of this landmark bill.
Press Inquiry: email [email protected] or visit AbleChild.org
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