I very much appreciate your take, but I fear you’ve not thought about a few things.
Red flag laws sound great until your psycho ex calls the police. And I’ve had psycho exes do far worse than merely make an accusatory phone call.
Important note: this person is NOT a criminal, and hasn’t broken any laws.
I can’t get behind withholding a constitutional right over a third-party accusation. And talk about a good way to get police murdered. “Yeah, computer says this guy is armed and fruity. Proceed with all caution.” If the flagged person actually has a mental breakdown, and the police are called, they’re getting executed. We all know this.
With fascism incoming, do you want to be on a list of armed citizens?
(Doesn’t matter if the reader doesn’t believe the 2A should exist, it does and the courts have upheld it again and again.)
I think that’s why I meant in principle. Due process ought to come quickly. No, the police in this country don’t have a good track record regarding people with mental health concerns.
The reality of the situation makes things far darker. If we lived in a place in which a law like this could exist and truly help people, I’d be for it, especially in the absence of even better scenarios. Ideally, no laws at all perhaps?
Your points here certainly don’t make me more likely to support this bill! Which it sounds like you agree.
Being a liberal gun nut, I think on gun laws a lot, watch a lot on content on the subject. Just don’t have answers.
I think we should be mandating safe storage though. Less kids and thieves with guns sounds great and I don’t see a 2A issue. Maybe allow one unsecured firearm in the home for defense. Maybe even 1 long gun and 1 pistol. Dunno.
And yeah, the 2A is the issue. We can’t ignore or repeal it, stuck for now.
One other thought; If we require a mental health professional to make the call, they’re always going to err on the side of caution. Can you imagine going to therapy and being advised, first visit, “You have zero mental health issues, a perfectly balanced mind. Go home.” Yeah, that’s never going to happen for anyone.
I very much appreciate your take, but I fear you’ve not thought about a few things.
Red flag laws sound great until your psycho ex calls the police. And I’ve had psycho exes do far worse than merely make an accusatory phone call.
I can’t get behind withholding a constitutional right over a third-party accusation. And talk about a good way to get police murdered. “Yeah, computer says this guy is armed and fruity. Proceed with all caution.” If the flagged person actually has a mental breakdown, and the police are called, they’re getting executed. We all know this.
With fascism incoming, do you want to be on a list of armed citizens?
(Doesn’t matter if the reader doesn’t believe the 2A should exist, it does and the courts have upheld it again and again.)
I hear what you’re saying, I think.
I think that’s why I meant in principle. Due process ought to come quickly. No, the police in this country don’t have a good track record regarding people with mental health concerns.
The reality of the situation makes things far darker. If we lived in a place in which a law like this could exist and truly help people, I’d be for it, especially in the absence of even better scenarios. Ideally, no laws at all perhaps?
Your points here certainly don’t make me more likely to support this bill! Which it sounds like you agree.
Being a liberal gun nut, I think on gun laws a lot, watch a lot on content on the subject. Just don’t have answers.
I think we should be mandating safe storage though. Less kids and thieves with guns sounds great and I don’t see a 2A issue. Maybe allow one unsecured firearm in the home for defense. Maybe even 1 long gun and 1 pistol. Dunno.
And yeah, the 2A is the issue. We can’t ignore or repeal it, stuck for now.
One other thought; If we require a mental health professional to make the call, they’re always going to err on the side of caution. Can you imagine going to therapy and being advised, first visit, “You have zero mental health issues, a perfectly balanced mind. Go home.” Yeah, that’s never going to happen for anyone.