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‘Are You Too Sick to Own a Gun?’: NBC News Lays Out Scary Scenarios in New Gun Control Push

Jan. 21, 2013 11:27am Liz Klimas

After both of the tragic mass murders of 2012 — the shootings at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. — mental illness was quickly brought to the table as answers were sought as to why someone would commit such seemingly senseless crimes.

Experts Say Mental Health Measures in Gun Control Could Lead to Over Reporting and Patients Avoiding Help

(Image: Shutterstock.com)

As the debate over gun control continues, so too does discussion about the role mental illness plays in it. NBC News reports experts saying the weight of adding mental illness into the mix might carry some unintended consequences. As NBC put it in its article headlined “Are You Too Sick to Own a Gun,” this includes everything “from gun owners avoiding mental health treatment to therapists feeling compelled to report every patient who expresses a violent thought.”

The new law regarding gun ownership passed in New York could result in both of these scenarios.

“There’s one group of people who are gun owners who may reasonably or unreasonably think, ‘I’m not going anywhere near a mental health person, because if they misinterpret something I say as an indication I’m going to hurt myself or someone else, they’re going to report me and take away my guns,’” Paul Applebaum, director of the Division of Law, Ethics, and Psychiatry at Columbia University, told NBC News.

Therapists who don’t report patients that express violent thoughts could face criminal charges themselves if something were to happen later, which as a result might lead to over reporting. News 8 out of Idaho Falls reported a therapist also citing the potential problem of over reporting mental illness with new laws:

What worries [mental health counselor Quinn] Thibodeau is new attention on mental health professionals possibly leading to over-reporting. He said a patient’s behavior should be reported to law enforcement only when there are grounds to do so.

“If they seem like they’re going to do something drastic based on the context of what they’re saying,” said Thibodeau.

Thibodeau said the professional code of ethics requires a viable threat by a patient to be reported to the intended victim of that threat, and law enforcement.

NBC pointed out that Obama has cited the need for improved reporting of mental health to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Given that only seven states account for 98 percent of those prevented from owning guns for mental health reasons, it’s clear there are holes in reporting.

Here’s more data from an article by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns:

The data, through April 2012, shows that in Colorado, more than 11,000 mental health records weren’t reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS. The study ranks the fifty states by identifying the five states that have submitted the most mental health records when controlling for population, and then comparing the rest of the country to those standards. In those top five states — Virginia, California, Washington, Michigan and New York — 830 records per 100,000 residents have been submitted. Colorado, the report says, would have to submit 11,192 records to join the top ranking states.

Colorado conducted 336,296 gun background checks in 2011 using this very incomplete data according to the study, which notes that 30,885 mental health records have been submitted in the state. Colorado falls somewhere in the middle compared to states across the country and is certainly doing a much better job reporting than the states at the bottom, which in some cases have submitted as few as three records.

Flanked by mayors and gun control activists, Chief Policy Advisor to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chairman of Mayors Against Illegal Guns John Feinblatt (C) speaks during a news conference January 16, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns held a news conference to call on Congress to take action to end gun violence. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“We have a lot of work to do,” Joanne Schwartz, executive director of ProgressNow Colorado, said according to the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition. “These recent mass shootings…really draws the focus to mental illness and the need to track it and report it effectively.”

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Comments (130)

Mephisto
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:40pm
Is Obama too stupid to be president? Absolutely! Do you see him resigning? Unfortunately, no. I’d rather have sick patriots owning guns than unmitigated morons like “Dumbo” and “Plugs” ruining the country.

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GCT
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:38pm
I know some who consider Progressivism a mental illness. I know many Progressives who consider Conservatism to be a mental illness. So, the ones in power disarm the others?

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alinskythis
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:23pm
The government goons have gotten to Glenn, and he’s now going to be the mouthpiece “debunking” Sandy Hook hoax.

I was literally going to join The Blaze this morning, for the thing tonight, but now I think I’ll skip it.

It’s one thing not to report the most important story since 9/11, it’s a whole other thing to start calling logical thinkers with eyes wide open “Crazies.”

Explain one thing to me, Glenn, Pat and Stu….

How is it possible that this is not a hoax. when the Facebook Sandy Hook Relief Fund page was put up THREE DAYS BEFORE the so-called shootings?

How is it possible that this is not a hoax when ANOTHER web page in support of the “victims” was erected on November 10, fully ONE MONTH before this giant hoax?

Here is one of the best articles I’ve read yet on this HOAX.

http://www.examiner.com/article/sandy-hook-hoax-is-falling-apart

“Just as they’ve done in countless other similar situations, while treating its followers like children, they first attack outside messengers with derogatory terminology, calling those attempting to point anything out that doesn’t jive with the official narrative conspiracy “theorists” and “racists,” etc., just before twisting and misrepresenting what’s being pointed out and totally avoiding that which cannot be easily misconstrued or hidden. It’s actually quite transparent and easy to see the pattern.”

And now they are using Glenn to do their dirty work.

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Beachbaby
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:20pm
Constitution gives me the right. Liberal pukes who THINK they are in charge are dead to me. BUH-BYE

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Larry E
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:20pm
The problem with bringing “mental health” into NICS background checks is that many want no one to possess a gun except for them or their hired and thoroughly vetted bodyguards because they’re much to “good” to touch such an evil thing as a gun themselves. Consequently anyone who strays at all from what they see as the straight and narrow would be denied their rights under the 2d Amendment. On the other hand there are those who are truly dangerous, and who are prescribed some psychoactive drug with possibly dangerous side effects of their own.

If someone decides that they need “analysis” because they feel that they’re not as happy as they should be do they need to be turned in to NCIS? Having never been analyzed I can’t really say, but it would seem that they likely don’t.

Unfortunately as with all things surrounding anything the least controversial, let alone guns, there will be a great push to cram the most stringent laws possible down our throats. Witness, Bloomberg and Cuomo in NY, and the various morons in IL over the years if you think I’m blowing smoke here.

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Owl Works
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:20pm
Mental “Health” or Political Oppression?

Remember, liberals & progressives call anyone who does not agree with them “crazy.”

And now they can do something about it: http://wp.me/pPbDg-gB

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ferggie
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:12pm
If a shrink is required to report mental illness so as to restrict gun use as well as forbidding a gun anywhere near that individual then Gabriel Gifford will not be allowed to own a gun as well as have a body guard that carries a gun for her protection. Sorry but what is good for the average citizen is good for our leaders.

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Yakov-Yurovsky
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:11pm
Rifleman’s Creed:

This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will…
My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit…
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will…
Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until victory is America’s and there is no enemy, but peace!

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Bub47
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:08pm
A little off topic:
December 2012 – Cheaper than Dirt – item AMM-723 – 500 rounds of Lake City .308 – $350
January 2013 Same item —– Wait for IT —– $599
PRICE GOUGE of what!

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- Daddy Hawg
  Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:44pm
  Simple supply side economics. When something becomes scarce or limited the price goes up with the demand. Magpul magazines for the AR are in excess of 1 million back ordered, so how do you think the price of the other magazines are affected? That’s right it goes up.
  
  Report this comment
JerseyGuy
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 2:05pm
Gotta go with Dr Vel on this one. After my daughter graduated from college she had a hard time keeping a job. At first we thought it was attention deficet disorder, turned out to be diagnosed Bipolar. All house guns then when into the gun safe. We all need to do this.
As for Newtown, I thought this kid, as reported, had Alsbergers. Doesn’t that mean that that person is a loner and defensive – rather then aggressive/physopathic? Just sayin!
Lastly, in NJ, when I apply to purchase a handgun, I have to provide fingerprints, references, employment background, sign a form allowing the police to contact my physician, and run a NICS check. What’s left???

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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:56pm
I don’t think mental “health” professionals have too much to worry about, when the public thinks they are just going to get prescribed a pill that on the second dose might make them want to commit violence on their own family, maybe the press should be contemplating why those drugs are still on the market, instead of worrying about patients that will never exist?

Depressed? Too bad? Think we are going to give you a pill that is going to alter your brain chemistry so that you might flip out? You can’t just stop taking these drugs they are so dangerous, so why were they approved in the first place?

You don’t need to worry about who is not on these drugs, you need to worry about who is currently taking them? I would stop short of demanding we take away the guns of people taking these medications, however I would advocate they get off of those medications as soon as possible, and take them off the market?

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ferggie
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:47pm
The left feels we do not need AR’s since we can use other guns for protection and hunting. They claim that because it doesn’t say anything about AR’s in the constitution it is perfectly legal to outlaw them. Abortion was declared to be constitutionally legal but nowhere in the constitution does it say when it is legal. I assume the left wouldn’t have a problem if a law was passed that mandated that any and all abortions can only be performed between 11:00 PM and 11:10 PM on the 4th Friday of every odd numbered month. Any attempt to perform an abortion before or after this time frame will be subject to fine and imprisonment. You can still kind of get an abortion right.

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PrivateSectorContractor
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:32pm
Are all narcissistic politicians considered mentally ill? Then they should all be removed from their offices and their guns confiscated along with their body guards. By the way, Hammers killings were double the amount of guns. I think all assault hammers must be registered.

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Daddy Hawg
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:26pm
Affordable Heathcare Act individual protections, another portion of what I provided: “‘‘(5) LIMITATION ON DATA COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR
INDIVIDUALS.—No individual shall be required to disclose any
information under any data collection activity authorized under
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or an amendment
made by that Act relating to—
‘‘(A) the lawful ownership or possession of a firearm
or ammunition; or
‘‘(B) the lawful use, possession, or storage of a firearm
or ammunition.’’.

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tothepoint
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:13pm
And, since grieving is no longer isolated from the DSM V category of Depression, any grieving person could be considered mentally ill and not fit to own a gun.
Since everyone is grieving the death of something or someone to some degree, the entire population is now at risk of the government determining they are not fit to own a gun.
Welcome to obamaland, America.
We owe all this to the lefties/progressive/socialists.

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Daddy Hawg
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:13pm
A portion of Obamacare “(e) Section 2717 of the Public Health Service Act, as added
by section 1001(5) of this Act, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(d) and (e), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b), the following:
‘‘(c) PROTECTION OF SECOND AMENDMENT GUN RIGHTS.—
‘‘(1) WELLNESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS.—A wellness
and health promotion activity implemented under subsection
(a)(1)(D) may not require the disclosure or collection of any
information relating to—
‘‘(A) the presence or storage of a lawfully-possessed
firearm or ammunition in the residence or on the property
of an individual; or”

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ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:06pm
The whey it’s going any thing the Gov. wants is going to be accomplished. The BILL of RIGHTS is going down. It’s just a matter of time with this Administration. You will have no privacy at all. Can anyone say or spell GESTAPO, SS OR SECRET POLICE? Who is saying, if you have nothing to hide what’s the big deal? The LEFT of course, the GODLESS LEFT. What is the big deal? The chip is the big deal you know the one that is a mini computer that people are putting into their arms etc. to keep track of their health records. The Mark.

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Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 1:05pm
FYI
Statistics on chicago’s murder rate

Afghanistan War 2001-2012
2043 Combat deaths

Iraqi Freedom 2001-2012
4486 Combat Deaths

Chicago 2001-2012
6096 Murders

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Atrocities
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 12:48pm
Mayors Against Illegal Guns…. then why are they targeting legal gun owners? Liberals worship hypocrisy with such devout devotion that they make even the most extremist Islamic fundamentalist look down right atheist.

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The patriot.
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 12:47pm
How to tell if someone is too sick to own a firearm. (If the person is conservative capitalist Republican or anyone who believes in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Or disagrees with this regime anyway)
this should now make it easy for you to tell who was too sick to own a firearm

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Heb4Seven
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 12:41pm
Mental Health?…Every Woman who goes through PMS and Menopause will be ineligible to own a gun according to the Lefts definition.

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Justan Noyence
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 12:32pm
Better watch out for surgery too, people say a lot of stuff under anesthesia.

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MachIV
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 12:31pm
At the end of the day, the result will be people doing everything they can to avoid going to get the help they need. Another twist to this is providers deciding to get out of the business because of the implicit liability imposed by the Federal government for a “lack of judgement” on some providers part when someone snaps. Of course I suppose the government could always take over that aspect of the psych field and…………..oh wait!….

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BlasberryStrat
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 12:29pm
The “wealthy & wise” who decide that we are sick drug addicts, are the same that see “no problem” with having their 3 Martini “business” lunch every day, followed by a couple of Xanax “because Capital Hill is so stressful”, and end their day with a couple of Valium “to take the edge off and help them sleep”. Hmmm…..

In the mean time these same people may enact a law stating that your doctors must report if you are or have recently been given a prescription that’s major use is for stress control or depression. It doesn’t matter if your Wellburtrin was prescribed for quitting smoking, or Xanax because of your job choice as an Insurance Adjuster. I feel when the big wigs get done with laws of who can and can’t qualify to buy a gun, there will be no one that can make the grade simply due to the multiple cross usages that each drug has, and the “possible side effects” that even aspirin has to publicly list. The ‘wigs’ won’t care either, due to they have the means for paying armed security as well as multiple vacation homes way off the ‘grid’ that they can sport shoot any time they want. This whole control grab comes down to the powers that be demand that ‘we’ do not have access to any firearms or ammunition. For those that say you won’t give up your guns, that’s fine. “They” have already thought of this, and will simply make it impossible to purchase ammo or reloading materials. When you’re out of bullets your ‘AR’ is of no use.

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Clownzilla
Posted on January 21, 2013 at 12:29pm
This is where it’s going:

Official: Give me your gun Bob

Citizen: Why?

Official: You are mentally ill.

Citizen: How so?

Official: You are part of the Tea Party which was classified as a radical hate group by Congress. Having part in a radical hate group is considered out of the norm and thus is indicative of having mental instability.

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