I guess that is the million dollar question. IMO first we have to increase our mental health infrastructure so that we have a place to house the most severe cases who are believed to be a danger to themselves or someone else. Most states privatized mental health in the past decade and while I am for privatization of many things, mental health simply isn't one of them. Like prisons, mental health is a necessary evil in government funding. As it stands right now every time the economy hits a tough spot the funding for mental health dries up because there are no political consequences for doing so. It has to become as big a priority as funding the military. I am not a person who believes in taking away peoples rights to bear arms, nor do I condemn "guns" every time something like this happens. That said, a legitimate, un-watered down registry that would allow gun store owners to run a check on criminal background, mental health background, etc. shouldn't keep honest, law abiding citizens from purchasing a gun in a timely fashion. Someone smarter than me can determine the best way to accomplish this but we can protect peoples second amendment rights while protecting society at the same time from individuals like this cat.
It's not just locking up the total crazies. Many mentally unbalanced people can lead fairly normal lives if they get therapy and medications. This kook in Lafayette was a manic depressive and schizophrenic, ailments that are successfully treated by a number of effective medications. Many manic depressive hate the lows but they like the highs and they are notorious for not taking their meds and going off the reservation, so to speak. When someone is found medically and legally to be too unbalanced to possess weapons they should be monitored. Weekly visits to a clinic to determine if they are on their medications and when they don't show up or get off the meds, they are taken into medical custody for observation until they do.
Not sure what you mean by "registry" but there is already a database where if a person has been convicted of a felony he is flagged by the background check and is his firearm purchase is declined. I don't know if those who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity for a violent crime and then confined in a mental institution are in the database but they should be. That is clear cut that such people shouldn't be allowed to purchase guns. But beyond that who decides who is mentally unstable enough to be denied the right to a firearm and what is the criteria you would want to put in the database? There are some mental health professionals who think anybody who owns a gun must be nuts and there are mental health professionals who are gun owners themselves. Its easy to determine who is clearly wacko but not so easy to make the borderline calls.
Careful Red. By questioning shane's opinion of the state of the nation you may have inadvertently committed a serious microaggression against him. He may be highly offended. And that, my liberal apologist amigo, is exactly the direction this country has turned. I apologize for the use of the word amigo if you happen to be Hispanic and it somehow offends you.
I wish that were true red, but I don't believe it. there is probably 20 % who would at the drop of the hat, would ok outright banning of weapons. maybe more I don't know. but what I do know is that politicians can not be trusted to follow the constitution. if you doubt that... think of this in the 1970's would you have said by the year 2000 smoking would be banned in most public places. or that seat belts would be required for every one riding in a car. 30 years might seen like a long time but it is relatively short. if people voluntarily agree to have their absolute personal right to freedom abridged for those things then why not for weapons. it is a slippery slope
A woman told me the other day she went to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital to visit a friend. Last time I was there you could go outside to smoke and there was even an outside balcony area connected to the second floor waiting room. Now they have banned all smoking on the property. She told me that she was in her car in the parking lot finishing her cigarette when a guy drove up in a golf cart and told her she had to put it out. IN HER OWN FUCKING CAR!!!!
I've never worn jewelry other than a watch. I like Rolex but I could never justify spending that kind of money on any watch.
ON SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY. Do you really want someone other than yourself to make the rules at your house?
