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Incoming NRA president Oliver North blames school shootings on Ritalin, culture of violence

Posted at 9:18 AM, May 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-21 09:18:17-04

(CNN) - The incoming president of the NRA is pointing the finger at ADHD medication for the recent increase in gun violence in the United States.

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Oliver North suggested on "Fox News Sunday" that the drug Ritalin was to blame.

"The problem that we've got is we're trying like the dickens to treat the symptom without treating the disease -- and the disease in this case isn't the Second Amendment. The disease is youngsters who are steeped in a culture of violence. They've been drugged in many cases. Nearly all of these perpetrators are male, and they're young teenagers in those cases. They've come through a culture where violence is common place. All we need to do is turn on the TV, go to a movie. If you look at what is happening to people, many of these young boys have been on Ritalin since they were in Kindergarten. Now, I am certainly not a doctor, I'm a Marine, but I can see those kinds of things happening," said North.

A study published recently in the journal “Pediatrics” says exposure to common medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has increased by more than 60 percent in U.S. children and adolescents over the past 15 years.

North's comments follow the nation's 22nd school shooting this year.

Ten people were killed Friday when a gunman opened fire at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas.

Courtesy of CNN Newsource