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Today's Poll: Should people being treated for mental health issues be barred from possessing guns?

By Howard B. Owens
Sam Tambe Jr.

I think if people show signs of being suicidal or homicidal they should not be allowed to own guns. I am a Desert Storm/ US Navy veteran and have PTSD and I'm not a psycho...so what a majority of people have said in this poll is that I shouldn't be allowed to own a gun?? Highly appreciated thanks. It was an honor to have served you and our Nation.

Sep 19, 2013, 10:22am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

I'm on the fence on this. Most people suffering from issues know this and can take steps, either not owning or limiting acess, (ie gunsafe, trigger locks and such)I myself have 2 guns but they are under lock and key. I can get them fast enough in a pinch but theres enough delay for my thinking mind to reconsider several times. I do know one thing from dealing with state and federal govt over scuba diving regulations and laws. There is always one fact that has been true. Give any regualatory body the power by law to do something, it takes an act of God to remove it. So consider very very carefully before giving up individual rights for anything.

Sep 19, 2013, 10:42am Permalink
John Roach

You have to be careful here. What type of mental illness are you talking about?

Remember that guy in Buffalo who went for some minor mental problem? The State Police went through some records, saw his name, and took his guns. While he got them back, he is a great example of why you can not trust Albany with this type of law.

Sep 19, 2013, 11:28am Permalink
Jeff Allen

The question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. There are too many variables under the umbrella of "mental health issues". If the pendulum swings to far to the right, clear cut cases of prohibitive ownership will be allowed, if it swings too far to the left, nobody will own guns since we will all fit some sort of criteria.

Sep 19, 2013, 12:01pm Permalink
Jason Crater

Sam. Thank you for your service. My thoughts and prayers go out to you in hopes that you overcome the PTSD. It's something no one should be forced to deal with.

Sep 19, 2013, 2:17pm Permalink
Tim Miller

"What part of "shall not be infringed" can't folks understand?" ?!?

Using the logic that you are implying with your post that there should be absolutely no infringing on the rights to bear arms, then:

- Two days after I get out of jail for killing three people with a gun a dozen years ago, I should be able to walk into my local gun store and buy a couple of handguns and a .50 cal rifle;

- As a person with psychopathic tendencies, who has already spent time in a mental hospital for torturing animals and children, and who has told my psychiatrist that I want to kill.... kill (think of Arlo Guthrie talking to the shrink at the "recruitment" center), I should be able to buy whatever weapon/armament I so desire;

- I should be able to walk into Rep. Cantor's office with a loaded Desert Eagle....

You get the idea.

Dave - a vast majority of your posts are informational, or at least backed up by some decent arguments or logic. Please do not get into the habit of using embarrassing sound-bites usually found on such quality programming such as Fox News or Rush...

Sep 19, 2013, 5:56pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

First: I will get into whatever habit I like.

Second: I don't watch television news except for ESPN and The Weather Channel (Joe Scarborough once in a while but rarely) and when surfing the radio, if I hear Rush Limbaugh's voice I move along, quickly.

Third: I'm good with all of the scenarios you list. Anyone and everyone has the right to bear arms. "Shall not be infringed" means exactly that.

There should be zero impediments to firearm ownership. Period. I firmly believe that a well armed society is a polite society. The theoretical nuts you present would either not be so emboldened or would be dispatched quickly. You can disagree if you want, I respect others' opinions, but I will also defend mine. I also understand that most people can't envision total freedom. I'm only trying to help.

edit: Zero impediments for adults to firearm ownership.

Sep 19, 2013, 6:26pm Permalink
Lori Silvernail

Zero impediments for adults to firearm ownership. hmm...blind neighbors with guns, ex-con neighbors on the other side. May they all move into YOUR neighborhood. Mine stinks enough, thank you.

Sep 19, 2013, 6:50pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Mental Illness comes in many forms and not all mental illness leads to a harmful personality. Did anyone pay attention to the D.C. shooter's history? He fired a shot through the ceiling of his apartment into the apartment above. He shot holes into the tires of contractor's vehicle. Is he mentally unstable? Yes, No or Maybe? Is he just a common thug or just another person who has detached himself from society? His actions were criminal. I do not know anyone who cleans a weapon with a round in the chamber. Yet, the local law enforcement found merit in his explanation. He displayed violence tendencies with his guns yet, the system failed to keep them out of his hands. Once again, guns are not the issue. People are and when we can't even enforce the laws that exist, how is anything else going to work?

Sep 19, 2013, 7:42pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

OK, I'll back up for the blind person. However I do think it should be the family's responsibility to keep the person safe, not the government.

Sep 19, 2013, 8:06pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Dave I do believe the Constitution allows for taking voting rights away from convicted felons, I don't have a problem with this being the case for gun rights either. (at the very least permits for handguns)

It just makes sense to me along with blind people not being allowed guns. However I want to make clear that I WILL NOT back up over the blind person. ( that's just mean, even for you lol )

Sep 19, 2013, 9:11pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

As for Tim's comments. Here is something to think about....

Replace every reference for gun with another item that can be used to kill Tim, like a screwdriver, baseball bat, or steak knife, ax or hammer, even a car or boat. There are people killed everyday with these items because of rage issues.

(which can be described as a mental issue i believe the DSM-IV has many mental heath diagnoses that involve extreme rage )

LOL (Heres a ridiculous example) Dang you Dave, just because I pulled out a brand new index card and threatened to cut you.... I now am banned from having cardstock of any kind. :P

Sep 19, 2013, 9:21pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

I caution all of you to remember that the same group of idiots who randomly define guns as "assault weapons" will be the ones who will randomly define who is mentally ill....

Think about the "definitions" issued by these same lights as to who is likely to become an "extremist". You know, those crazy veterans and church goers and retired police...

Sep 19, 2013, 10:15pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

A lot of great comments. the best being from Kyle C. "Give any regualatory body the power by law to do something, it takes an act of God to remove it. So consider very very carefully before giving up individual rights for anything." Absolutely correct.
The only reason this is being discussed is because we have already allowed the government to infringe on our rights, so that is being used as rationale to infringe further. It's the basic rationale behind the unelected commission getting away with a jail mandate.
If it came down to only convicted felons and blind folks were prohibited, I could accept it. But, it is a right, not a privilege.

Sep 20, 2013, 6:14am Permalink
Don Lovelace

You should never be released from jail or the mental hospital in your senario.

The other, would depend on how Rep. Cantor felt about you in his office with a gun.

Sep 20, 2013, 9:23am Permalink
Mark Brudz

"It's a right, not a privilege." Well said Dave

As far as Felons go, the conviction of a felony is a forfeiture of rights, That is why Felony crimes should be restricted to crimes against person and crimes that endanger the population in the first place.

The maze of laws that have been passed in reaction to crimes already on the books during the 20th and now into the 21st Century is appalling. The Safe Act is a prime example. Washington DC and Chicago Il have the toughest gun laws in the nation, yet a man walks in with a shotgun and kills 12, and someone in Chicago last night killed 13 on the south side of Chicago including a 3 year old boy.

When are people going to get it, it is not the gun, it's the people that have no regard for law and life.

As far as Blind people, how many blind people have you ever heard of who would even consider owning a gun, A straw man argument at best. Felons, yes,

As far as mentally ill go, maybe looking at how we treat and identify mental illness might be a better way to go.

Sep 20, 2013, 9:24am Permalink

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