The mentally ill and gun rights
I was watching 60 minutes last night and was shocked to find out that David Shern, president of Mental Health America was and is trying to block any reform to stop mentally ill people from buying guns. He does want the government to have the records of mentally ill people for background checks to buy guns. The NRA supports not selling arms to mentally ill people yet Mr. Shern thought this unfairly stigmatizes them for life. Can anyone help me to understand why a mentally ill person needs a right to have a gun?
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Since 1968, federal law has prohibited the sale of guns to anyone adjudged mentally ill. But more than half the states cannot — or will not — supply the necessary mental health records to the FBI database that is used to conduct background checks on would-be gun buyers.
That could change following last week’s massacre at Virginia Tech. The U.S. House is considering a bill that would encourage states to share mental health records with the federal government by giving them more than $1 billion in grants to help cover the costs.
In the case of Seung-Hui Cho, a court had ordered him to undergo psychiatric counseling in 2005 after determining he presented a danger to himself. But because he was never committed to a mental hospital, Virginia never entered the court order into the federal database. So Cho was still able to buy two handguns.
On Tuesday, Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said he may issue an executive order to close that loophole.
David Shern, president of Mental Health America, an advocacy group for people with mental illness, said the proposed federal law would unfairly stigmatize people who are treated for mental illness, could discourage some from seeking help, and would not really make the U.S. safer.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:39 am
It’s obvious that Mr. Stern is biased, and is quite determined as a mentally ill individual to maintain his right to own a gun.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:40 am
My apologies, I of course meant SHern*.
April 30th, 2007 at 9:26 am
What is the definition of “mentally ill” these days?
Anyone who’s ever taken Prozac or Valium (or related medication)? Anybody who’s ever seen a mental health professional? Anybody whose ever checked ‘yes’ to a question on a form asking whether they’ve ever felt depressed or anxious?
April 30th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Left
In the Brady Bill it was someone who was sent to a mental hospital or recommended by a court.
April 30th, 2007 at 9:43 am
So, a parent that’s despondent over the sudden loss of a child and is briefly hospitalized forfeits for life their right to defend themselves against a stalker or other criminal?
April 30th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Left
Do you think a person with deep depression should have a gun?
April 30th, 2007 at 11:20 am
JohnKonop: Do you want to confiscate the guns of people that slip into deep depressions? Do you want to give the gun back when the depression ends? Or does a history of depression mean you can never own a gun? What if you were depressed because of your violent, abusive husband?
April 30th, 2007 at 11:46 am
I do think the burden of proof should be on the patient’s side not the State. This liberal notion that we must protect mental patients right over the safety of society is crazy!
April 30th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Oh, OK comrade Stalin. I’m looking forward to your new breed of “Prove you’re not insane” hearings. Especially, when hospitalization is absolute proof of guilt.
I know how much you guys enjoy sitting in your desk chairs and beating your arm rests, crowing about how if only liberals would go away the world would be so much better.
But, decisions about what powers the State should have over individuals require more thought and less right wing hyperventilating. Our Founding Fathers put a lot of thought into it and were cautious about eroding individual rights (read the Declaration and Constitution and you’ll see what I mean).
Conservatives think the answer to everything is to “round up the bad people”. Until it gets abused and all of a sudden they get labeled as “the bad people”. The Devil is, quite literally, in the details.
Dangerous people need to be addressed, but how you identify them and what you do with them requires more thought than armrest pounding. Humanity tried giving the State the kind of power you are proscribing, it was called the Soviet Union, and it didn’t work out too well.
April 30th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Extremist like you that would put guns in the hands of insane people to feel good about yourself!
April 30th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I think if “the crazies” are able to fix their “grey matter” they should be able to have a gun. Just like this video illustrates (or maybe it’s about building bicepts) Anyhoo, supposedly if you see something weird in the video you’re supposed to call your doctor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_acAje6RHU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egiantmonster%2Ecom%2F