Poll: Gun Owners With Mental Illnesses

[Autohellion]

In the wake of the shooting of the senator I have heard much talk about banning guns in general, but one in particular hit home. The ban they wanted enforced was that people who had been diagnosed with any mental illnesses would not be allowed to own a gun. This hit home because i have a mental illness, OCD to be precise and i own and plan to own more guns. I have never been a threat to people and Im not violent. Do you think just because I have a mental illness I should not be able to own a gun? Speak your thoughts

 

[Romidude]

I don't think a ban would apply to all mental illnesses, in the case of OCD; the worst thing that would come of that is needing an even number of guns.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Mental illnesses in general? Hell no, having to make your room neat and tidy every morning won't cause you to want to shoot up Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson across the street.

 

[Wing Dairu]

I completely agree that the term "mental illness" needs to be more defined, but I think that the mentally unstable should not be allowed the possession of firearms.

 

[Worgen]

really we need some better form of gun control but its a fight that obama cant really afford to have right now. There is no reason for a civilian to own a 30 round clip for an automatic pistol (yes yes I know joke reasons but beyond that)
Plus assualt rifles dont really have much point in civilian hands either, really allot of our problems right now are from how easy it is to get guns, immigration is one of those exacerbated by it since right now the biggest supplier of guns to the cartels in mexico is the US, if they had more stability right now then we wouldnt have as big a problem with illegals or "all the crime" they commit

 

[macfluffers]

All mental conditions? That's silly. But conditions that could be violent? Yes. It may seem unfair, but I don't think we should allow dangerous weapons to be in the hands of potentially dangerous people. It's a recipe for disaster, and the dish has been made several times.

 

[Keith Reedy]

I put yes to the poll but I did not mean slight disorders like ocd I meant serious illness that causes actually problems that could lead to kill people or self with said guns

 

[Mimssy]

I have bipolar disorder and I would not allow myself to own a gun.

 

[Kunzer]

Before I read your thread, I would have said "No" as a knee-jerk reaction.

I am really glad you posted because I believe it has opened my eyes a bit. I see no reason why someone with OCD should ever be prevented from owning or operating a firearm!

I do, however, believe that any person suffering from a disorder which features any form of psychosis should be prevented from coming into contact with firearms or any weapon.

 

[Something Amyss]

I don't think a ban would apply to all mental illnesses, in the case of OCD; the worst thing that would come of that is needing an even number of guns.

I hope that was intended as a pun.

 

[loc978]

It really depends on the mental illness. Most people with OCD or ADHD aren't unstable. This should be taken on a case-by-case basis. If you're stable and functional, go right ahead I say.

 

[Leg End]

If no, I cannot own a gun because of people deciding because of who I am(even though it isn't an illness), I don't need to defend myself from people trying to stab me or burn my house down for said previous reason.

If yes, I can.

Depends on how you define "Illness".

I demand my right to defend my house from the nutjobs in my neighborhood(Read: Everyone) who want to take away my daughter while killing me in front of her to prove a sick point.

Ahh, America, how I hate most of your citizens.

 

[Autohellion]

I put yes to the poll but I did not mean slight disorders like ocd I meant serious illness that causes actually problems that could lead to kill people or self with said guns

Actually OCD is not so minor, it can lead to untreated people acting Irrationally, Make you extremely angry if interrupted during a ritual and can lead to confrontations if someone attempts to make them stop, lets say walking through a doorway 8 times, Also many if not most OCD sufferers have depression ranging from mild to extreme.

 

[Autohellion]

I don't think a ban would apply to all mental illnesses, in the case of OCD; the worst thing that would come of that is needing an even number of guns.

I hope that was intended as a pun.

Thank you as that was mildly insulting

 

[archvile93]

It depends on the disorder. OCD, no. Paranoid schizophrenia, yes.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

It all depends on the disease. If it's a violent one, than yes, keep them from owning one. If it's like you and it's just OCD, than go ahead and buy one. However, in most cases you do have to take a psych evaluation to carry a firearm outside of your home and the firing range.

 

[xdom125x]

Depends on the mental illness really. If it is something that makes the person delusional and manic and stuff, they shouldn't have guns. While if none of those are happening the person should go through the usual process.(I am biased here because I have the A.D.H.D. and still think I am competent enough to own and operate a gun safely)

 

[viranimus]

Instead he smoked a bunch of pot, which is like giving someone with a peanut allergy Reese's peanut butter cups.

As someone who has in the past smoked pot, I take offense at that notion. Dont blame the drug for the actions of a nutjob who would have likely done the same had be been completely lucid. I wager, if anything Pot likely helped this guy keep from going off the deep end as long as it did, instead of doing it when he was 16. Also note that he had given up tobacco, alcohol and pot since 2008.

As for the OPs notion, Honestly I have no problem with more stringent requirements being placed on gun ownership, but how exactly do you go about doing that? As it stands theres already a waiting period and a background check, which for example Loughner passed. Perhaps the background check could also include an existing medical records check, but even that isnt likely to yield much better results. It might catch a few here and there, but not really enough to merit the extra time and cost.

Simple fact is, this gun hysteria is getting rather outlandish. Guns dont kill people, People kill people. A gun is little more than a tool. An automatic hole digger with a point and click interface. Fact is... If someone is already mentally unstable, and determined to kill someone, having gun prohibition will NOT deter them from acting out on that ambition. All it really does is ensures they will end up planning more carefully, say by having to ambush someone with a knife.. Or taking more extreme measures, by upgrading to a home made bomb. Should we outlaw bleach, and other household cleansers too while were at it?

Honestly this really reminds me of being a kid. When you were a kid, and if you had siblings, and you whine cried and bellyached because a sibling was getting to do something you couldnt. Did your parents just let you go ahead and do it too? No they took it away, and ensured both of you wouldnt get it. So do you really think its fair to screw the tens of thousands of legitimate gun owners who use their guns for practical and recreational purposes, just because a small handful of whackjobs go overboard? Do you really think that is going to stop those whackjobs from doing what they intended to do?

 

[viranimus]

Instead he smoked a bunch of pot, which is like giving someone with a peanut allergy Reese's peanut butter cups.

As someone who has in the past smoked pot, I take offense at that notion. Dont blame the drug for the actions of a nutjob who would have likely done the same had be been completely lucid.

Are you a paranoid or non-paranoid schizophrenic? No? Than the no pot smoking rule does not apply to you. It specifically harms schizophrenics because it rapidly advances their disconnect from reality. Thus the peanut allergy reference.

It is assumed, there is a lacking of empirical evidence to support it. Beyond that.. My point is still the same, Saying pot had something to do with it only really flies if the guy had been smoking recently, Not a 2-3 year gap since last usage, or else he would have been more likely to do it 2-3 years earlier.

 

[Souplex]

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