He will seek Congressional approval of $500 million to expand access to mental health care. It would also allow the federal government to more effectively fight straw purchasers – a person who buys a gun for someone who is legally prohibited from owning one, said Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Florida. “It’s not in the background check”, Chavez said. Many, many people suffering from mental illness, including those who have experienced psychosis and hallucinations or who have lived through suicidal moments or even attempts, go on to live successful, productive lives.
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Chavez argued the executive orders won’t do enough to stop people with mental illness from buying a gun even at a gun shop that follows all the laws including filling out the required forms. The National Rifle Association declined an invitation to participate in the town hall, after Obama accused the gun lobby on Tuesday of holding Congress hostage from taking action to curb gun violence. Patients who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution or those deemed “mentally defective” can be denied the right to purchase, carry or own a gun under federal law.
“We’re going to ensure that federal mental health records are submitted to the background check system, and remove barriers that prevent states from reporting relevant information”, Obama said yesterday at a press conference.
Dotson says his officers run into people with mental health issues everyday.
Enforcement: Improve the use of America’s existing gun laws, and add 200 new agents to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On Tuesday, the president issued plans to spend $500 million to increase access to mental health care and mental health information for conducting background checks. “The rule specifically prohibits the disclosure of diagnostic or clinical information, from medical records or other sources, and any mental health information beyond the indication that the individual is subject to the Federal mental health prohibitor”.
The Obama administration said the final rule “balances public safety goals with important patient privacy interests”.
“No one’s psychotherapy notes are going to end up being disclosed because of this rule”, said Andrew Sperling, a lobbyist at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an advocacy group for patients and their families. In June 2015, now presidential candidate John Kasich said “now I don’t know how many of you know people who struggle with these illnesses, but if you’ve got a problem with schizophrenia you find yourself in a prison?”
“There is no evidence that this is a category of people who are at risk of committing gun violence”, she said. We know that, although often debilitating, mental illness needn’t be a lifetime disability.
Skipper, who also teaches concealed carry permit courses, said many gun enthusiasts and sellers are anxious about new possible legislation that could creep further and restrict Constitutional rights.
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As a mental health provider and professional here in the community, I’m sure you see people that need treatment that aren’t getting it, and perhaps those are the people that this new plan might be able to help.
