Senators seek tougher gun background checks for mentally ill

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Senators seek tougher gun background checks for mentally ill

By Harriet McLeod
CHARLESTON, South Carolina | Wed Mar 6, 2013 8:03pm EST

(Reuters) - A Republican senator introduced bipartisan gun background check legislation on Wednesday that would make it harder for mentally ill people who are considered to be dangerous to buy a firearm.

The legislation proposed by Lindsey Graham would require reporting of certain mental illness treatments and legal proceedings to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the clearinghouse for all new gun purchases.

Those cases would include anyone found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity or anyone who received involuntary outpatient treatment from a psychiatric hospital.

Graham cited a recent case in his state of South Carolina as a key example of the failures of the current background check system and the need for reform.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/07/us-usa-guns-mentalhealth-idUSBRE92602I20130307

[slackmaster]

1. I haven't read the details but this sounds like something I could support

Something less than an adjudication of mental defectiveness or an involuntary inpatient commitment, but still indicative that the person could be a threat to self or others.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. Wierd.

Doesn't sound like him.

Most of this reporting is in place already but the jump from state databases, to NICS is incentive based, not penalty based. If a state meets reporting requirements, they get access to a pool of money that the federal government maintains for some purposes, like law enforcement, PSA's, etc. That requirement needs to be penalty based, where a state will lose something, like highway funds, before we can expect universal compliance by all states.

[Eleanors38]

3. If due process is followed, I support this. Hopefully, funding is there.

[BainsBane]

4. without background checks on private sales

This is meaningless, and deliberately so. Look over there ---->
Just don't look at my guns.

[holdencaufield]

5. In my profession ...

... I come across mentally precipitous persons all the time. Most of the time, it's a temporary state of being overwhelmed by everything going on their their lives -- medical problems, family problems, etc.

My advice is almost always the same -- STAY OUT of the mental health system if you can possibly work it out yourself. Friends, family, go to a shrink under a false name and pay cash (they love that) anything but getting into that bureaucracy that will club stamp your hand for the rest of your life and effect everything you do from the moment you enter that system.