George, there we go confusing gun control laws designed to keep guns out of the wrong hands with the constitutional right to bear arms. I contend.... that the mentally unstable have no right to bear arms. Call me crazy I guess.... :roll:
A "crazy" person will kill you with whatever they can get their hands on... or just their hands. A criminal can get guns anywhere. As easy as a pack of cigarettes.
I quite agree... But nobody (here or in the national debate) has addressed the question of just what does "mentally ill" (or "unstable") mean? Stark raving psychopaths and sociopaths (who should be institutionalized but usually aren't) obviously would (and usually do) fall into the category of being denied a permit... But where do you draw the line...anyone who has sought out the services of a mental health professional? Transient depression from loss of a loved one? Trouble focusing due to PTSD? Traumatic Brain Syndrome from getting blasted out of an MRAM in Iraq? Who certifies when the line has been crossed into mental illness that disqualifies you from owning a firearm? Should a court hearing be involved? Zoloft and it's brethren, the SSRI's are the third most prescribed group of drugs in this country. One in Ten Americans takes an antidepressant. 23% of women between 40 and 50 are on an antidepressant. And it's not new...it used to be Prozac was the drug of the day. I'm not arguing with your statement...just pointing out that in my belief it's not that easy a definition to pin down. So then you would have to perhaps fall back on Jif's contention that nobody should have the right to a firearm...and then I would have to disagree with you.
Not easy I agree. But much like the college football playoff I would like to see an effort made to get something in place that's better than what we have and then make needed adjustments. Not to try at all seems wrong and incompetent. Listening to the sky is falling... god help us we're all gonna die crowd if they have gun control is preposterous and tragic at best.
We already have gun control. The toughest gun control in the United States is in Chicago. That is working out very well.