While it is true that some forms of mental illness can increase the likelihood that someone would commit heinous acts of violence, it is not true that all people who have mental illness are violent. Yet, what I've been seeing on both sides, is that they are being quick to assume to know the mental state of the man responsible for the assassination attempt upon the life of Rep. Giffords, even as they are not licensed to make that assumption.
I've already had to call out Think Progress for their most recent headline via Twitter about this very topic, and while I expect that right-wingers will try to justify the "mental illness" defense (and they have plenty of good reasons as to why - one being that it's a convenient scapegoat and an easy way to deflect the fact that their culture of hate and fear is what is causing the uptick in right-wing violence these days), I also expect that liberals and progressives will be responsible about when describing the mental state of the alleged shooter Mr. Loughner.
See here's the thing: While it is true that Lougher's internet postings are disturbing, it does not mean that he is mentally ill. He planned the attack and knew who it was that he was after and why. Whether he was mentally ill or not, either way this is a man whose mind is riddled with so much hate that he was made to believe that violence was the solution to his "problem" and hate alone can be enough to drive people to do what they do.
Tim McVeigh was certainly of a sound enough mind when he stood trial and was ultimately convicted for his own horrific terrorist attack. Yes, his ideology in most polite circles would be considered to be that of a nutcase. But the thing to keep in mind is that there are people who do violence who are not mentally ill by any real definition - unless you can count hate as a mental illness.
I am a sufferer of mental illness. I have had no inclinations of violence against myself or others. So yes, the assumptions are getting to me on a personal level. I ask that others wait until an official psychological evaluation of Mr. Loughner can be done and then we'll know of his mental state then.