44 percent of towns and cities surveyed aren’t checking mental health of concealed carry apps

[jpak]

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/12/11/politics/maine-state-police-survey-finds-four-in-10-responding-towns-and-cities-arent-checking-mental-health-of-concealed-handgun-permit-applicants/?ref=relatedSidebar

AUGUSTA, Maine — Four in 10 municipalities in Maine that issue permits to carry a concealed handgun are not running the legally required mental health background checks, said a Maine State Police representative on Wednesday.

Lt. Scott Ireland told a subcommittee of the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that a survey he conducted found about 44 percent of municipalities told state police they are not checking an applicant’s mental health history, and nearly 6 percent of police chiefs said the same.

Ireland said that only 60 of 150 police chiefs responded to the survey, as well as only 60 municipalities. In Maine, municipalities, local police chiefs or the state police can all be “issuing authorities” for concealed carry permits.

Ireland said he believes the statistics would not change significantly if more surveys had been returned, and he added that the question may be one reason so few were returned.

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[gejohnston]

1. probably because it would

violate medical privacy laws. Also, isn't it the State government's job, not he city? That is how it works in most places.
What are they supposed to be looking for? If they are dangerous, they generally have a history of violent behavior.
Wayne and the NRA opened the door for the prohibition lobby to scapegoat a group that has zero political power. Wayne was an asshole by coming up with bullshit people registry.

[doc03]

2. There was an article on the county in Ohio where I live (Belmont) this last summer

something like 150 people were turned down for CCW last year because of mental problems. The surrounding counties had zero people turned down, that included (Jefferson) county where Steubenville is located, it seems like someone gets shot there at least once a week. But nobody has a mental problem there.

[gejohnston]

3. but are those people with mental problems

applying for CCWs in those other counties? Jefferson County's population peaked in 1960, and now has fewer people. It also has a high unemployment rate. Perhaps the criminals are staying and the mentally ill are leaving for where they can find jobs and get treatment.

[doc03]

4. Oh brother that is the lamest excuse I ever heard of, the mentally ill

left town to look for work and only the criminals are left. Belmont county has also lost population since 1960 and all the mentally ill must have stayed in town and tried to get a CCW
permit. While all the surrounding counties the mentally ill left the area. I would say since the county Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer here the one in Belmont county must take his responsibility more seriously than the Sheriffs in the surrounding counties.

[gejohnston]

6. I doubt it has anything to do with the county

because most CCWs are investigated and issued by the state police. Since an Ohio CCW is accepted by Wyoming, it seems to be the case. If anything, it has to do with adjudicating judges not telling the state police or the FBI.
There are some states where permits are issued on the county level but Wyoming law prohibits the attorney general from recognizing permits from those states. That is none reason California and New York permits are not honored in Wyoming. While a Wyomingite will go to the county to do fingerprints and drop off the paperwork, the sheriff simply sends the paperwork to DCI.
FWIW, Wyoming isn't quite like Vermont and Arizona, since "green" or "constitutional carry" only applies to legal residents.

As far as the OP is concerned, I'm guessing that that is the case in Maine as well.

[doc03]

8. In Ohio you apply with the county Sheriff's office, they take your picture, fingerprints and when

you are approved you pick the permit up at the Sheriff's office. The permit has the Sheriff's logo on it and his signature as the issuing
officer.

[gejohnston]

9. In Wyoming and Florida you get the photo

from anyone who does passport photos, the finger prints from the cops, and mail those and the application to FDLE (Florida) or DCI (Wyoming) and it comes in the mail.

[oneshooter]

5. Sounds like Maine has a problem.

What do you propose to remedy it?

[jpak]

11. No permits for Faltlanders

yup

[oneshooter]

12. And what are you doing to push this idea forward. n/t

[ManiacJoe]

7. An important paragraph for context:

Ireland also added that state police already handle the concealed carry applications for more than 350 territories, towns and cities — the bulk of incorporated municipalities in the state. So 60 responses from municipalities that handle the process themselves is probably most of them, he said.

[ileus]

10. odds like that tell me more folks in Maine need to start carrying.

There's a load of nuts out there, no need to take chances.

Safety first can carry on.