Ga. backs relaxing gun laws for mentally ill

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Ga. backs relaxing gun laws for mentally ill
March 7, 2013 | 6:15 pm

ATLANTA (AP) -- While some states push to tighten gun control laws after the Connecticut school massacre, lawmakers in gun-friendly Georgia want to ease rules preventing some mentally ill people from getting licenses to carry firearms.

Legislators in Georgia's House voted 117-56 on Thursday to allow people who have voluntarily sought inpatient treatment for mental illness or substance abuse to get licenses. The same bill would force officials to check on whether applicants have received involuntary treatment in the past five years before issuing licenses. Georgia also may change its laws to allow people to carry guns in churches, bars and on college campuses, contrary to what's happening elsewhere in the United States.

Judges in Georgia now have discretion over whether to grant a license to carry a weapon to anyone who has received inpatient treatment at a mental hospital or substance abuse treatment center in the last five years, whether it's voluntary or not.

"Simply being hospitalized doesn't make a person a criminal or a threat," said Rep. Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper, the bill sponsor, in a statement. The legislation now heads to the state Senate.


Read more: http://washingtonexaminer.com/ga.-backs-relaxing-gun-laws-for-mentally-ill/article/2523616

[liberal N proud]

1. I guess the NRA isn't going with the Mental Illness causes shooting anymore

[struggle4progress]

5. The gun manufacturers want more gun violence so they can urge more people to buy guns

to protect themselves from gun violence

[olddots]

10. So true

this is what a vicious cycle is paranoia makes people buy guns so they become more paranoid, mass hysteria -rinse and repeat .
I consider myself wacky enough to know I shouldn't own guns---most people who think they are sane are not very sane ,

[Judi Lynn]

11. Exactly! n/t

[Laurian]

2. Just awful! I live in this godforsaken state,

and the idiots in our state legislature never fail to amaze me with their ignorance. It's like they see the path society (for the most part) prefers and make a concentrated effort to thumb their noses at it and go in the absolute opposite direction.

Disgusting.

[McCamy Taylor]

3. Actually, there are many voluntary admissions for substance abuse that are really

just legal requirements to keep a casual user out of jail. A person who is arrested for recreational use who opts for rehab instead of jail can probably safely own a gun. Having a judge consider them on a case by case basis sounds reasonable to me. An active alcoholic with a history of suicide attempt is a poor candidate for gun ownership since he is so likely to pull the trigger in a drinking binge.

[Laurian]

4. I take no comfort in the fact that judges can make these determinations after

Reading about a Georgia judge who tried and convicted an empty chair.

http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2013-03-06/ga-judge-accepts-60-day-unpaid-ethics-suspension

[marble falls]

6. Oh jeez. And being a state Rep doesn't mean one is sane, either.

[apocalypsehow]

7. You literally couldn't make this stuff up.

[BootinUp]

8. Not the Onion???

[Tx4obama]

9. Kick n/t

[JRLeft]

12. The republican party is a terrorists organization.

[Ken Burch]

13. Apparently, some members of the state House and Senate majorities

had been having trouble buying guns before this was passed.

[DeSwiss]

14. K&R

- Darwinism in carne .



''So let me see if I got this right, Georgia.
Ya'll was sitting around in a backroom
and somebody said: 'You know, we
ought to give gun rights to the mentally
ill!' Is that how it happened? Just
protecting the rights of your core
constituency?''

[panzerfaust]

15. ... as wants state legislators to be able to purchase guns

[Ken Burch]

16. Now THIS GUY will be stocking up on guns and ammo: