Asmongold kicked off a big debate during a recent stream when he addressed a U.S. school shooting. He argued that “political correctness” makes it difficult to discuss mental health issues when transgender individuals are involved.
The OTK co-founder didn’t blame transgender people as a group. Instead, he focused on what he sees as barriers to early intervention. According to Asmongold, society hesitates to address warning signs when the person showing them happens to be trans.
His main argument centered on prevention. He wants platforms to monitor online activity more closely for red flags like threats or violent fantasies. When someone posts credible threats, he believes companies should report them to police immediately.
Asmongold went further. He suggested using involuntary psychiatric holds for people who publicly signal they might hurt others. These holds would apply to anyone showing dangerous behavior, regardless of their identity.
Critics pointed out that most mass shooters are cisgender men. Reuters fact-checks show very few known shooters identify as transgender compared to the total number of incidents. The vast majority of trans people never commit violent acts.
Mental health professionals note that being transgender isn’t a mental illness. Gender dysphoria—distress from the mismatch between experienced gender and assigned sex—appears in the DSM-5. But experiencing dysphoria doesn’t predict violent behavior.
Current prevention tools include red flag laws, threat assessment programs in schools, and reporting systems on social platforms. Many platforms already work with law enforcement when users make credible threats. The effectiveness varies by state laws and company policies.
Asmongold’s proposals raise civil liberties questions. Involuntary commitment requires proof someone poses danger to themselves or others. Online monitoring must balance privacy rights with public safety. Free speech protections complicate when and how platforms can act.
The Minneapolis shooting Asmongold referenced remains under investigation. Authorities haven’t released official statements about the shooter’s motive or whether their gender identity played any role in the attack.
