House Republicans Just Voted To Allow Severely Mentally Ill People To Buy Guns

[CousinIT]

House Republicans have voted 235-180 to overturn an Obama administration that blocked Social Security disability recipients with mental disorders from buying guns. Less than two weeks into Trump's presidency and Republicans have given the mentally ill easier access to guns.

http://www.politicususa.com/2017/02/02/house-republicans-voted-severely-mentally-ill-people-buy-guns.html

[Fresh_Start]

1. Its because Donald wants to carry protection...

and he's currently block by the existing legislation

Thats my story and I'm sticking to it

[Jim Beard]

3. and thats a good story indeed.

[TrekLuver]

13. OMG....HYSTERICAL. Well done well done...I'm using that on twitter...thank you

[Ms. Toad]

2. Yes, because all severely mentally ill people are dangerous

I'm all in favor of more restrictions on who can purchase guns, but as the mother of a child with mental health issues I am not in favor of demonizing people like my daughter for the sake of making a political point.

[HassleCat]

6. It is not demonizing anyone to restrict access to firearms.

[Ms. Toad]

8. It actually is. You are excluding them from a right they otherwise have

based solely on a medical condition that does not universally make them dangerous.

(Again - I am completely in favor of more restrictions on gun access - but I'm not willing to further stigmatize an already incredibly stigmatized population by supporting a suggestion that a mental health condition - any mental health condition - is universally dangerous.)

[arithia]

22. agreed!

The mentally ill are far more likely to be hurt by others around them than they are to hurt others or even themselves. Police are often trained to consider them a threat based on the untrue stigma that they are violent. As a result, about half of all extrajudicial police killings (that we know of) are of the mentally ill and disabled.

Universal background checks would be far more reasonable than perpetuating this tired old bullsh*t. The article pointed out concern over mass shooters, with conservative estimates of mental health issues in around 20% of mass homicide perpetrators. Violence against women/children is a far more accurate predictor of mass shooters than a mental health diagnosis. 57% of mass shooters target family members or intimate partners with 60% of the victims being women and children.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-08-02/the-connection-between-violence-against-women-and-mass-shootings

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. I really don't see how anyone who is mentally ill enough

to receive disability has any business with a firearm, and I'm one of them. It's not about demonizing, it's about safety, for them more than anyone. A cop sees a "crazy" person with a weapon and they shoot first and ask questions later.

[Ms. Toad]

12. So - it's for their own good. That's infantilizing peole with mental health conditions.

Just as I would counsel women to make choices that increase their safety and decrease their risk of being selected as a victim BUT vigorously oppose restrictions on our movements (including victim-blaming, presumptions about consent, etc.) - I have the same position on mental health.

You know, for yourself, that you have no business having a firearm. Fine. That's your choice. Imposing a blanket condition on all people with mental health conditions (or even all mental health conditions severe enough to receive disability) to keep them safe from police shooting them is no more appropriate than imposing a 11 PM curfew on women to protect them from violence would be.

[angstlessk]

17. HOW is a gun going to keep the mentally ill from being shot by police?

Seems MORE likely, not less?

[jmg257]

14. Were you determined 'mentally ill enough' by a panel? Is there some sort of 'due process' involved?

[TexasBushwhacker]

24. I was determined mentally ill enough

by Social Security that I cannot maintain gainful employment.

[HassleCat]

4. Maybe it's a good thing.

Perhaps snuggling up with an assault rifle and a stash of ammo will have a calming influence.

[Fred Sanders]

26. What is missing from the thread is the definition of - mentally ill - and a sense of humor.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

30. There is nothing funny about it.

[HassleCat]

33. I'm assuming it applies only to those who woild hurt someone.

That covers a wide swath, of course, but not everyone.

[gordianot]

5. Mass shootings are just another media opportunity for Donald.

He can keep us up on the Apprentice ratings.

[gopiscrap]

7. that's going to go over well

just wait til there's rampant shooting in the streets

[demigoddess]

10. is there any standard that will prevent gun ownership? mental illness, no.

criminal records, I'd bet against it. Age? they teach 5 yr olds to shoot and leave guns lying around so toddlers get their hands on them and shoot people. we hear it all the time. Blind? that probably would not be a barrier to gun ownership. Oh, I know one, post-funeral ownership. After death. That one is probably okay too.

[TrekLuver]

16. They'd love to pass a "libtard" gun ban I'm sure.

[MountCleaners]

18. It would be interesting to see what would happen

...if we all joined the NRA!

[X_Digger]

27. Yes, there are. If one is adjudicated mentally defective (the wording in the law, not mine)..

.. by a court in a legal proceeding, likely part of an involuntary commitment hearing, then they are ineligible to purchase a gun from a federally licensed dealer.

That process that I outlined? Is a legal proceeding meeting the requirement of due process. You know the thing mentioned in the fourteenth amendment- "nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law".

[braddy]

11. We already have such laws in place, they just aren't directed at people by age.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. Jesus! Another kick in the gut for the Sandy Hook families!

[Kingofalldems]

19. Gunners loving this one.

[FiveGoodMen]

20. The way the GOP loves guns is a sign of severe mental illness

[avebury]

21. What could possibly go wrong?

[hollowdweller]

23. I retired from doing SS disability claims and this puzzles me

My understanding of it is if you were found incapable of managing your benefits then the order prevented you from owning a gun.

What are the sorts of things that render a person incapable??

Well one is a very low IQ. Another would be a long history of substance abuse and homelessness where you could not be counted on to use the money to provide food, clothing or shelter for yourself. Another might be if you have severe bipolar disorder and have manic episodes where you spend all your money.

In general 90% of the people I determined to need a payee I wouldn't have wanted owning a gun.

In fact I would even go farther and say if somebody is found disabled on a mental basis they should have to be cleared by a doctor before they are allowed to own guns. More than a few doctors notes I read told the families to remove guns from the house even though the people were not judged violent, or suicidal and these were people not even bad enough to need a payee. Sometimes not even bad enough to be allowed period.

Been more than a few times over the 30 years I worked there where there were people I or my co workers allowed and then we'd see them later in the paper for shooting someone.

This has gotta be all about pleasing the gun manufacturers, because they seem to have no problem limiting benefits for people who test positive for drugs on other programs, but limiting guns for people who pose a legitimate risk is a no no?

[jmg257]

32. Just to be clear, it didn't prevent you from owning a gun, it added you to the FBI NCIS system.

It may have prevented you from buying a NEW gun via a dealer which would run a background check.

[Trust Buster]

25. They wish to prohibit people on food stamps from buying soda pop but it is alright for mentally ill

Social Security recipients to purchase guns.

[X_Digger]

28. Due process? How's that even work? Bah.

We don't need due process, fuck that fourteenth amendment when it comes to guns. Right?

[Phoenix61]

29. It isn't just getting SSI.

It's having your SSI payment going to someone else because you can't manage your own finances. That is someone who is not a functional adult. I'm more concerned about them accidental hurting themselves or someone else than I am about a mass murder situation.

[aikoaiko]

31. This was a mixed bag to begin with. The Article in the OP is partisan hyperbole.

The law did place people with mental illness and forced representative payers on the firearms prohibition list, but it included people who were not dangerous.